Kovind panel report: 3 ex-HC chief justices, 1 state election commissioner opposed simultaneous polls

Among the former chief justices of major high courts, nine supported simultaneous elections, highlighting their potential benefits while three raised concerns or objections.

Former Delhi High Court chief justice Ajit Prakash Shah opposed the concept of simultaneous elections, noting it may curb democratic expression along with concerns about distorted voting patterns and state-level political alterations.

Related: ‘One nation, one election’ report says 32 parties supported, 15 opposed

‘Hinder political accountability’

“Additionally, he said that simultaneous elections hinder political accountability, as fixed terms offer representatives unwarranted stability without performance scrutiny, challenging democratic principles,” the report noted.

Former Calcutta High Court chief justice Girish Chandra Gupta opposed simultaneous polls, saying the idea is not conducive to the principles of democracy.

“Justice Sanjib Banerjee, Former Chief Justice, Madras High Court opposed simultaneous elections due to concerns that it would undermine India’s federal structure and be prejudicial to regional issues.

“He cited empirical data showing frequent midterm state elections, emphasising the importance of allowing people to exercise their choices. He suggested state funding of elections as a more effective reform to tackle corruption and inefficiency,” the report said.

All four former chief election commissioners, who were consulted by the panel, favoured simultaneous elections.

Related: One nation, one poll, says Kovind panel; report with President

Tamil Nadu EC expresses concerns

Amongst present and former state election commissioners consulted by the panel, seven endorsed the idea while Tamil Nadu Election Commissioner V Palanikumar expressed concerns.

“One primary concern emphasised was the pervasive dominance of national issues over local considerations during elections. The Commissioner expressed apprehension that this trend could potentially dilute the focus on region-specific challenges and

diminish the efficacy of local governance,” the report noted.

“Furthermore, the Commissioner highlighted the acute issue of a shortage in electoral manpower, emphasising the imperative of bolstering staff to ensure the seamless and efficient execution of elections,” it added.

(Disclaimer: The headline, subheads, and intro of this report along with the photos may have been reworked by South First. The rest of the content is from a syndicated feed, and has been edited for style.)