P.P. Choudhary, chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on simultaneous elections, said on Monday that decisions on the remainder of the term for mid-term polls must be made through political consultations with parties.
P.P. Choudhary spoke after consultations on the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill. He noted that if a government loses its majority with two and a half years left, a mid-term election could be held for the remaining period. However, a clear cut-off would be required when only six or three months remain.
Mr. Choudhary said an amendment to anti-defection laws might also be needed. He added that President’s Rule could apply for the remainder of the term. On fractured mandates, he observed that mechanisms already exist to handle such situations.
The chairman pointed to past simultaneous elections held between 1952 and 1967. He stressed that frequent elections burden teachers and disrupt development programmes. Mr. Choudhary clarified that the proposal does not aim for a one-party system.
