The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill proposes aligning State Assembly and Lok Sabha elections with fixed five-year tenures to reduce disruptions. Critics, however, raise concerns about its impact on governance, federalism, political accountability, and democratic stability.

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The Current Debate on Fixed Legislative Tenures: 

1. On Reduction of Electoral Disruptions and Governance Improvement

• Criticism of Cost Reduction Claims:
  • The Bill’s claim of reducing election costs is not convincing. Most election expenses come from political parties, not government budgets.
  • Even if costs are saved, it is unlikely these funds would be redirected to development or infrastructure projects.
• Impact on Political Accountability:
  • While frequent elections enhance accountability by ensuring representatives regularly engage with voters, simultaneous elections could reduce this engagement, impacting democratic participation.
• Mid-term Elections Provision:
  • The Bill does not mandate a fixed term for legislatures but allows mid-term elections if necessary. This ensures accountability to the legislature, aligning with the parliamentary system’s principles and basic structure of the Constitution.
    • However, as the legislatures elected in mid-term polls will serve only the remainder period, the effectiveness of this provision in improving governance remains uncertain.  

2. On Federalism and Political Plurality

In Favor

• Symmetry in Election Timelines: The Bill standardizes the timing of elections without making State Assemblies subordinate to Parliament. If the central government collapses mid-term, new Lok Sabha elections would be held, but subsequent elections would align all legislatures to a common date.
• No Threat to Federalism: State Assemblies are not being “aligned with Parliament” but are integrated into a synchronized electoral system. 
  • Federalism remains intact, as State Assemblies continue to function autonomously until their scheduled election cycles.
• Electoral Independence Maintained: The argument that simultaneous elections would lead voters to favor the same party for both the Centre and the States is unconvincing. 
  • The claim that federalism would weaken because the public would focus more on central issues than regional ones is flawed. 
  • Voters are aware of the distinction between national and state-level concerns. 
  • Historical examples, such as the 2014 Delhi elections, show that voters can distinguish between national and state-level preferences.

Against Alignment

• Forcing State Assemblies to align with Parliament undermines their autonomy, which is central to federalism.
• Under the current system, State Assemblies can function independently, and this Bill weakens that structure.

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3. On Discouraging Destabilization and Practices like Horse-Trading:

• Limited Impact on Horse-Trading:
  • Recent cases of large-scale defections in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka show systemic issues beyond election timing.
  • The Bill does not directly address mechanisms to prevent such practices, leaving this concern unresolved.
• Challenges with Shortened Tenures:
  • If mid-term elections are required, the remaining term for the new legislature might be too short for effective governance.
  • Frequent mid-term elections, though rare, could still disrupt stability and create administrative delays.

4. On addressing  political crisis

• The Bill allows mid-term elections to resolve political stalemates, such as hung assemblies, but the new legislature will serve a shorter term instead of five full years.
• This approach ensures some level of accountability while managing crises.
• Fixed terms might provide stability, but they reduce the ability to dissolve assemblies and seek fresh mandates, which has been an important tool in managing crises.             

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Conclusion

In conclusion, while political instability at the state level is a concern, the current electoral system, despite its flaws, should be preserved. The focus should shift to addressing more urgent challenges that directly affect the people, rather than pursuing simultaneous elections.

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