Simultaneous polls to foster centralised authoritarianism, says CPM
Calling for "resolutely opposing" the demand for simultaneous polls, the CPM has said that it will only foster "centralised authoritarianism".
With President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitching for simultaneous polls, the party said the obsession with fixity of tenure and stability is a "ruling class concern, which is in full conformity with the neo-liberal regime".
It said the argument in favour of simultaneous polls is that frequent elections attract huge expenditure and frequent imposition of Model Code of Conduct will impede development, while the counter is that it strikes at the root of a parliamentary democratic system.
"India is a vast country with political diversity and only a federal set-up can sustain political democracy...The concept of holding simultaneous election by tampering with the Constitution will only foster centralised authoritarianism. This must be resolutely opposed," the CPM said in an editorial in party mouthpiece People's Democracy.
It said holding of the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls together requires "tampering with Constitutional scheme of accountability" of the government to the legislature.
The party has also found fault with Niti Ayog's pitch for simultaneous polls.
The Niti Ayog has suggested if dissolution of the Lok Sabha cannot be avoided following a no-confidence motion and if the remainder of its term is not long, the President should carry out the administration on the advice of a council of ministers appointed by him till the next House is constituted.
The CPM has found this as an "outrageous proposal" to bringing an executive president "through the back door."
Another suggestion - if the Lok Sabha is dissolved in early years, then elections should be held only for its remaining period - also does not find favour with the CPM, as it argues that it would end up in "more frequent Lok Sabha elections, which defeats the purpose, for which simultaneous elections are being advocated".