For starters, achieving political consensus for simultaneous polls seems chimerical. The researchers studied results of all states whose elections have coincided with the Lok Sabha elections since 1999. Hence, the ability of voters to vote differently at state and centre, in case of simultaneous polls, is decreasing with time. Jagdeep Chhokar, founder of Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), describes the idea of simultaneous polls as “negation of democracy” for similar reasons. Former Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalswami, however, thinks all logistical challenges can be overcome provided the political class agrees to holding simultaneous polls.

Source: Indian Express September 07, 2016 05:26 UTC