(ET)
The Niti Aayog has advocated “fixed tenures” for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies to “sustain the electoral cycle” if simultaneous elections have to be held across the country.
In a report, exclusively accessed by ET, the government think tank suggested legislation to fix the term of the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies at five years to avoid midterm elections. The Aayog has cited an Act framed by the UK to underline its point.The UK enacted the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, 2011, mandating completion of a term of Parliament before general elections are held.
The development assumes significance since the Aayog, last year, had found little force in proposing a fixed tenure. In a discussion paper then, it had said “fixed term is not proposed”. Instead, it suggested tweaking the recommendations of the Election Commission of India. In its final report, however, the Aayog has recommended fixed term.
