RGICS Issue Brief: Introduction of Simultaneous Elections to National and State Legislatures

 The idea of holding simultaneous elections for national and state legislatures is being pushed as a way to cut costs, reduce election-related disruptions, and make governance more efficient. But there’s a catch: It could end up weakening India’s federal structure, drowning out regional parties, and making the Rajya Sabha almost irrelevant if the same party controls both state and central governments. Plus, there’s no clear solution for what happens if a government collapses before its term ends.

The debate around simultaneous elections isn’t new—it’s been around since the Law Commission brought it up in 1999. Recently, bodies like the Election Commission, NITI Aayog, and various parliamentary committees have weighed in, mostly arguing that it could save money, reduce governance disruptions, and make policies more coherent by syncing election cycles. Sounds efficient, right?

But here’s the flip side. Critics are worried that this move could mess with the core of India’s democracy. By pushing regional issues to the backseat, it could give an unfair advantage to national parties and leave smaller, regional voices unheard. Not to mention, the idea of giving the President more power to dissolve state assemblies feels like a step toward centralization, undermining the autonomy of states.

Then there’s the Rajya Sabha problem. If most states end up being controlled by the same party as the central government, the Rajya Sabha’s role as a representative of state interests might become meaningless.

The real headache, though, is figuring out what happens if a government falls apart before completing its term. Solutions like Germany’s constructive vote of no-confidence sound good on paper but feel impractical for India. While simultaneous elections could bring some order to the chaos, it also risks tearing down important aspects of India’s democracy.

Keywords:  Simultaneous Elections, Federal Structure, President’s Rule, Fixed Term, Constitutional Amendments, National Parties, Regional Parties, Bicameral Legislature, Electoral Reform, Accountability