India's Cabinet accepts recommendation to hold simultaneous national and state elections

NEW DELHI: The Indian Cabinet has accepted the recommendation to hold simultaneous elections to state assemblies and the National Assembly, the Information Minister said on Wednesday, adding that the move is being pushed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to improve governance.

A government-appointed panel recommended in March that simultaneous elections in the world's most populous country would help increase transparency. However, the move is controversial and must be approved by parliament.

Simultaneous elections would strengthen democracy, Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters, adding that the plan was supported by a large section of India's youth population.

The government will reach a consensus and consider all legal aspects before proceeding, he said.

Simultaneous elections used to be the norm in India, but this rhythm was interrupted decades ago, leading to the current staggered system in which an average of five or six state elections are held each year, either simultaneously or separately.

Frequent election campaigns distract politicians from governing, increase campaign costs and also delay the announcement of new policies and programs under an electoral law, say Modi and his government, pushing forward the so-called “One Nation, One Election” plan.

The nine-member committee set up by Modi's government last year also said it found that real GDP growth was higher when elections were held at the same time, while it declined without them.

Opponents of the idea, including some prominent opposition parties, say it violates Indian federal policy. REUTERS