Conducting simultaneous elections is feasible given the required legal framework is in place, Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat said on Tuesday, 14 August.
"Simultaneous polls are not possible without amendments in law but if polls are to be held in installments, like in 11 states at once, there are possibilities if all respective houses agree to dissolve and conduct polls together," Rawat told ANI.
Citing a lack of VVPAT machines to conduct “One Nation One Poll” by this year’s end, Rawat refuted claims of the Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections being held simultaneously. He said extra polling personnel, security and VVPAT machines will be needed to ensure smooth sailing of ‘One Nation One Poll’, reported ANI.
"There are not enough VVPAT machines to conduct 11 state elections simultaneously with Lok Sabha polls in 2019. If such a thing is to be attempted, more VVPAT machines will have to be ordered and a decision in this regard will have to be taken in a month or two," CEC OP Rawat told News18.
What Do We Need for ‘One Nation One Poll’?
Simultaneous elections across India would stir a demand for 34 lakh ballot units, 26 lakh control units and 27 lakh additional VVPAT machines in absolute terms, a report in The Times of India stated.
Rawat further said that the Election Commission cannot place an order for these many additional units purely based on concerns arising amid anticipation for switch to “One Nation One Poll” idea.
The response from Rawat comes a day after Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) President Amit Shah wrote to Law Commission saying simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections will put a check on poll-related expenditure and ensure that the country is not in an “election mode” through the year, Hindustan Times reported.
India’s Election Schedule of 2018-2019 Polls
The election fervour is expected to grip India in 2019 with General elections slated to be held before May, while Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana and Arunchal Pradesh are also likely to go for Assembly elections in April or May in 2019.
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram will elect state governments in 2018 this year.
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