Prime Minister in his address to nation from ramparts of Red Fort on Independence Day 2019 has once again called for need of simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and all state-assemblies, but without elaborating how it can be practically done in present outdated poll-system. Prime Minister has taken many drastic steps boldly like abolition of irrelevant portion of article 370 of the Constitution. It is utmost necessary that Prime Minister boldly takes initiative for consolidated and massive poll-reforms till now deferred for decades in name of never-to-be-achieved political consensus
Chief Minister (or Prime Minister) should be simultaneously elected with Speaker and Deputy Speaker by secret and compulsory votes through EVMs equipped with VVPAT on nominations signed by at least 34-percent members with abstaining members losing right to vote in the House though retaining its membership. Such elected incumbents may be removed only through same process but with compulsion to name alternate leader in the same motion. This is the only way to prevent hung legislative bodies and unstable governments to pave for simultaneous elections.
A sitting MLA, MLC or MP must resign first from earlier seat before filing nomination for other. An MP may automatically lose membership of Parliament on taking oath as minister in a state. Likewise any state-legislator may lose membership on taking oath as minister at the centre. Legislators in states and centres may be disqualified for contesting elections for life in case of mid-term resignation from the legislative body. Any candidate getting votes less than NOTA may also be disqualified for life to contest any election. Absolutely useless concept of state legislative councils may be abolished even though Rajya Sabha ma be retained.
SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL