There have been discussions on the joint elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. Election Commission(EC) and Law Commission are getting ready to explore the possibilities of the simultaneous elections in the country. EC has sent invitations to the Law Commission chairman BS Chauhan(Retired judge) and other higher officials to attend the discussions on May 16.
Law Commission is planning to hold Lok Sabha and States' Assembly elections in two phases which will start from 2019. To make it a reality, amendments should be made to two articles in the Consitution. Majority of the states have to accept the amendments. The parliament also should pass the amendments to the articles in the Peoples Legislative Act with a general majority in order to make joint elections a reality.
As per the executive document of the Law Commission, the second phase joint elections will be held in 2024. In case, a government in a state loses the majority and falls, it has to go for mid-term polls a new government will be formed. The newly formed government will rule the state for the remaining period but not for a period of five years.
Law Commission document also says that there should be 'Confidence Motion' which can be tabled immediately after 'No-confidence Motion to put a check to the fall of governments often. If the opposition parties don't have the required majority to form the government, they can't remove the existing government. On the other hand, Election Commission has clarified that they need Rs.9,000 crores for conducting joint elections because they would need a huge number of voting machines and other infrastructure.
Law Commission is planning to hold Lok Sabha and States' Assembly elections in two phases which will start from 2019. To make it a reality, amendments should be made to two articles in the Consitution. Majority of the states have to accept the amendments. The parliament also should pass the amendments to the articles in the Peoples Legislative Act with a general majority in order to make joint elections a reality.
As per the executive document of the Law Commission, the second phase joint elections will be held in 2024. In case, a government in a state loses the majority and falls, it has to go for mid-term polls a new government will be formed. The newly formed government will rule the state for the remaining period but not for a period of five years.
Law Commission document also says that there should be 'Confidence Motion' which can be tabled immediately after 'No-confidence Motion to put a check to the fall of governments often. If the opposition parties don't have the required majority to form the government, they can't remove the existing government. On the other hand, Election Commission has clarified that they need Rs.9,000 crores for conducting joint elections because they would need a huge number of voting machines and other infrastructure.