Arrest Process of Repeated Elections for Free Development: Chouhan

Bhopal – Seeking to trigger a debate and forge a consensus against development roadblocks caused by repeated elections, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has written to all MPs, MLAs and national leaders of various political parties apart from social activists across the country and urged them to enlist support for simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

In the letter – four sets of which were dispatched – Chouhan described the Indian democracy as one of the greatest democracies in the world, but also enumerated its limitations like repeated elections and the ills of fractured verdicts.

Chouhan recalled that till 1970 both Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections were held simultaneously, but noted that the process came to an end in later years that even witnessed mid-term elections on some occasions.

Highlighting the huge stress caused to the economy by the separate elections, Chouhan also stressed the effect that the repeated implementation of the Model Code of Conduct had on development and public welfare initiatives in election bound areas.

Apart from simultaneous elections for the parliament and state assemblies, Chouhan, in the letter, also called for reforms like the direct election of prime minister and chief ministers and state funding for election expenses incurred by all recognised political parties.

Calling for a consensus on the matter, Chouhan urged MPs and MLAs to take up the matter within their respective parties and hoped that his suggestions would pave the way for the evolution of an electoral process that strengthens the democracy while retaining a strong welfare-orientation.