JPC mulls holding re-election for remainder term to keep ‘ONOE’ cycle intact

Bengaluru: To maintain synchronicity in case of a fractured mandate or no-confidence motion, the Joint Parliamentary Committee on ‘One Nation One Election’ (ONOE)is considering holding re-elections only for the remainder of the term, said JPC chairman P P Chaudhary, during a consultation meeting with media representatives here in Bengaluru on Monday.

“In 1993, a constitutional amendment ensured that if a no-confidence motion is moved in local self-governments, a new chairman and committee take over for the remainder of the term. The theory of remainder term already exists at the grassroots and could be replicated in the Assembly and Parliament too,” said Chaudhary.

“The high-level committee recommends conducting elections to local self governments within 100 days of Parliament and Assembly elections to strengthen decentralisation by giving ample time for governance,” he added.

On fears of national narratives overshadowing local issues, Chaudhary said voters won’t be swayed by national narrative. “We cannot underestimate voters, who are now very vigilant and have voted for different parties in the state and Parliament elections. The exit polls too go wrong because a voter does not reveal his mind, but uses his discretion while voting,” he added.

On the logistical challenge of security deployment and EVMs, the chairman said the JPC would consult MHA and ECI on deploying security forces on a massive scale. “BEL has committed to provide requisite number of EVMs in two years,” he said.  

‘Staggered polls hit economy’

Citing the high level committee (Ramnath Kovind committee) report, JPC chairman P P Chaudhary said staggered elections cause economic losses of Rs 7 lakh crore due to loss of production. “Five crore migrants move across the country for elections. It affects production and industries are unable to pay taxes and might move towards insolvency as a worker who goes for elections stays home for a longer duration.

Also governance is impacted as officers are constantly in election mode. IAS officers are deployed as poll observers in different poll-bound states. This affects policy making and programme implementation in his home state. Investors are also hesitant to invest in states that are in election mode,” he said, adding simultaneous polls also reduced “freebie culture”.

On the academic disruptions owing to elections, Chaudhary said students suffer due to staggered elections as teachers are engaged in census and election duty, which affect academic activity. The committee is in consultation with the ECI, education department, MHA and student unions to evolve an election calendar based on the academic calendar, agriculture season and geographical situation of states.