Recently, Union Cabinet approved two Bills related to the implementation of simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.

• One of the Bills is to amend the Constitution to implement simultaneous polls while the other is to amend provisions in laws dealing with Union Territories with Legislative Assemblies.
• Previously, a high-level committee, headed by former President Shri Ram Nath Kovind, recommended a roadmap for holding simultaneous polls to Parliament, State Assemblies, and Local bodies.
• Simultaneous Elections means holding elections to the Lok Sabha, all the State Legislative Assemblies, and local bodies i.e., Municipalities and Panchayats, together.

Need for Simultaneous Elections

• Governance: Frequent elections delay development programs and impact policy decision due to the imposition of Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
• Financial burden: Holding simultaneous elections can rationalize the massive expenditure incurred for conduct of separate elections every year.
• Human resources: It can also avoid diversion of security forces and other electoral officers (like Teachers) from their primary duties for prolonged periods.
• Other: Higher voter participation, reduced burden on courts, etc.

Concerns associated with Simultaneous Elections 

• May adversely impact electoral prospects of regional parties, reduced political accountability due to public scrutiny once in 5 year, logistic issues such as requirement of large number of EVMs, etc.