India’s agreement to simultaneous state and federal elections raises concerns about the future of democracy

IndiaThe government has approved a plan to hold national and state elections simultaneously, raising concerns among opposition parties that the move could undermine the country’s parliamentary democracy by centralizing power.

Last week, the federal cabinet approved a comprehensive report by a panel headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind, which recommended synchronized polls to reduce costs and increase government efficiency.

Critics say the proposal could shift India towards a presidential-like system United Stateswhich concentrates executive power and weakens the current parliamentary framework in which there is little overlap between state and national elections.

Prime minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have long advocated pooling elections, saying it would reduce spending.

Former Indian President Ram Nath Kovind was part of the panel recommending synchronized voting in the country. Photo: AP

Estimated costs of conducting state elections range from about 41.5 billion Indian rupees ($500 million) every five years for all states combined to about 55.5 billion Indian rupees. But critics say any savings from the proposal would represent only a fraction of states’ budget spending.