Key recommendations in simultaneous elections report ‘flawed’, says former CEC Quraishi

Former CEC Quraishi raises concerns over practicality of simultaneous polls, highlighting logistical, financial, and constitutional challenges.

With the government setting the ball rolling for simultaneous polls, former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi has flagged concerns over the practicality and implications of the proposed move, saying some key recommendations are "flawed" as he emphasised the need for a debate in Parliament on these issues.

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday (September 18, 2024) accepted the recommendations of a high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind for holding simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha, State Assemblies and local bodies in a phased manner after a countrywide consensus-building exercise.

The move has sparked a national debate with Opposition parties calling it impractical and a "cheap stunt" by the ruling BJP.

The report on simultaneous elections claimed that more than 80% of the 21,558 responses received supported the proposal.

Mr. Quraishi termed several key recommendations in the report "flawed".

He pointed out that the simultaneous elections would exclude Panchayat elections, which represent a substantial number of local elected officials.

"The entire country is being shaken up for simultaneous elections while ignoring over 30 lakh elected representatives at the local level," he told PTI Videos.