India’s approval of simultaneous state and federal polls sparks fears over democracy’s future

The plan, aimed at reducing costs and enhancing governance, has been met with criticism over fears it could undermine India’s parliamentary democracy

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A voter’s finger is marked with indelible ink after casting a ballot during the third phase of voting for national elections in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, on May 7. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 6:00pm, 29 Sep 2024

India’s government has approved a plan to hold simultaneous national and state elections, sparking fears among opposition parties that the move could undermine the country’s parliamentary democracy by centralising power.

Last week, the federal cabinet endorsed a comprehensive report from a panel led by former President Ram Nath Kovind recommending synchronised polls to reduce costs and enhance governance efficiency.

Critics argue the proposal could shift India toward a presidential-style system, similar to the United States, that concentrates executive power and diminishes the current parliamentary framework under which state and national elections have little overlap.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have long advocated for combining elections, asserting it would cut expenses.

Former Indian president, Ram Nath Kovind, was on a panel recommending synchronised polls in the country. Photo: AP

Estimates of the cost of holding state elections vary from around 41.5 billion Indian rupees (US$500 million) every five years for all states combined, to about 55.5 billion Indian rupees on average. However, critics argue that any savings from the proposal would only be a fraction of states’ budgeted expenditures.