Simultaneous polls: Amit Shah rules out early Lok Sabha election, cites lack of political consensus

amit shah

Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s national president Amit Shah on Tuesday dismissed talk that the 2019 general elections may be preponed and indicated that simultaneous elections may not be feasible due to lack of political consensus, according to a report by The Indian Express.

Asked if the government was planning to hold simultaneous elections, Shah said that it would not be possible because a political consensus is yet to be formed on the issue, the report states.

Earlier, reports had suggested that the government wanted to prepone the 2019 Lok Sabha election by approximately six months to hold them simultaneous with Assembly elections slated in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Rajasthan later this year.

Speaking to the newspaper, Shah said, “The PM has put forth an idea (of simultaneous elections) before the country. And he has welcomed a public debate on this. This issue will progress further only after a law is enacted and all parties extend support. The Election Commission will also have to hear it. Only then can this thing move forward.”

“If all political parties unite tomorrow, it can be done tomorrow. It requires an amendment to the RP Act (The Representation of People Act), and it can happen only in Parliament. It cannot be done secretively,” Shah added.

In January, President Ram Nath Kovind had called for a "sustained debate" on holding simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha and the state assemblies, saying all parties need to arrive at a consensus over the issue.

In 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former President Pranab Mukherjee made strong pitches for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.

PM Modi has repeatedly spoken in its favour, saying if the proposal was not suitable, it could be rejected, but there should be a debate on it.

NITI Aayog has also favoured synchronised two-phase Lok Sabha and Assembly elections from 2024 to ensure "minimum campaign mode disruption" in governance.

The government think tank said it would be in national interest to hold simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, and suggested formation of a group of experts to devise how it could be done.