President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday came out in support of simultaneous polls for the lok Sabha and State Assemblies. “There are talks of simultaneous elections in the political circles. It could be possible if the political parties seriously arrive at a consensus. It may be possible because it can remove a lot of inconvenience in terms of management,” he said, while addressing the nation on the eve of the Republic Day.
Underlining the strength of India’s democracy and cautioning against disruptions in Parliament and State Assemblies, the President said, “We have a noisy democracy. Yet, we need more and not less of democracy… The settled complacencies have to be questioned. The edifice of trust has to be strengthened.
“The time is also ripe for a constructive debate on electoral reforms and a return to the practice of the early decades after Independence when elections to the lok Sabha and State Assemblies were held simultaneously. It is for the Election Commission to take this exercise forward in consultation with political parties.”
Former Deputy Prime Minister and senior BJP leader lK Advani, Prime Minister Narendra Modi have supported this idea in the past. After the Parliamentary Standing Committee on law supported simultaneous polls in its December, 2015 report, the Government had sought the views of Election Commission in this regard.
The Commission had made it clear that it would need nearly Rs 10,000 crore, more Electronic Voting Machines and more security personnel for the massive exercise. It had also pointed to the amendments in the Constitution.
Congratulating the electorates, the President said they have the maturity and the 2014 election was an example when after 30 years the electorate gave clear verdict in favour of a particular party. He said simultaneous polls can remove lot of inconvenience both in terms of expenditure and management and hailed the role of the Election Commission in helping the voters and providing them with the necessary infrastructure to come out and vote in large numbers.
Mukherjee noted that in the 2014 general elections, 66 per cent of the voters used their franchise, the highest ever.
His remarks appreciating the role of the Commission in voter awareness comes against the backdrop of some politicians claiming that the EC has overstepped its mandate of election management by getting into the realm of voter awareness and education. The President said despite having a small set up at Nirvachan Sadan — the Election Commission headquarters — the Commission has in the past held elections in trying circumstances. He said it takes the help of the bureaucracy and teachers in the State told elections.
Mukherjee conferred national awards for best electoral practices for 2016 on 12 officers.
On the occasion, the President gave election photo identity cards (EPICs) to five new young voters and felicitated six future voters. The President said he was confident the Election Commission can maintain its existing standards and continues to improvise and evolve.
In his address, Chief Election Commissioner Dr Nasim Zaidi said last year, the poll panel enrolled 1.32 crore voters on its registry. The electoral roll is considerably purified. About 3.5 million voters have been removed from the roll due to various reasons. The Chief Election Commissioner released the book Rs Unfolding Indian Elections – Journey of living democracy’ and presented first copy to the President. Dr Zaidi hoped that the first time and future voters will get encouraged to be part of electoral process. Election Commissioners DP Rawat and AK Joti, Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi, Chandra Bhushan Kumar, representatives of political parties, former CECs , heads of 15 Election Management Bodies, international organisations and officers of ECI attended the national level function.
Delhi CEO also conferred an award for opening of electoral museum that is first in the country. Tamil Nadu has been awarded for best electoral practices this year.
Zaidi said new citizens in recently exchanged enclaves between India and Bangladesh for the first time joined the electoral process. The oldest voter Mohd Asghar Ali (104) got to vote for the first time in his entire life time. Ali passed away recently.