India: Re-synchronizing Elections for Better Governance

Context

History of Elections in India

Lok Sabha and state assembly elections were held together from 1952-1967.
Desynchronization happened due to frequent dismissal of state governments using Article 356.
Supreme Court’s 1994 judgement (S R Bommai vs. Union of India) curbed misuse of Article 356.

Benefits of Simultaneous Elections

Addressing Concerns: Local vs National Issues

Argument: Simultaneous elections may overshadow local issues.
Counter-argument: Evidence from past elections shows voters differentiate between national and local concerns.
- Examples: Odisha (2019) and NCT of Delhi elections.

Operationalizing Simultaneous Elections (Phased Approach)

One-time tenure curtailment for some state assemblies ending near previous Lok Sabha election.
Extension of terms for some state assemblies beyond five years.
Once synchronized, Lok Sabha and state assembly elections held together, even in case of premature dissolution.
Premature dissolution elections only for “remainder of the term,” not full five years (similar to by-elections).

Local Body Elections: A Separate Case

Combining local body elections (panchayats, municipalities) with others may not be practical due to:
- Variation in state laws governing local body elections.
- Sheer number of local bodies.
- Responsibility for local body elections lies with state election commissions, while ECI handles Lok Sabha and state assembly elections.

Conclusion

Desynchronization resulted from misuse of Article 356.
Simultaneous elections will promote good governance by making politicians focus on long-term plans.

Bengaluru’s Water Crisis: A Warning for Indian Cities

Bengaluru’s Woes

Worst drought in 4 decades leads to severe water shortage in Bengaluru (14 million residents).
City needs 2,600-2,800 MLD water but receives barely half.
7,000 out of 13,000 borewells have dried up.

Reasons for the Crisis

Historically, Bengaluru relied on human-made lakes for water.
Urban expansion (IT boom) led to:
- Loss of water sources (lakes became dumping grounds).
- Increased concretization hindering groundwater recharge.
Decades of ignoring warnings:
- Environmental Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI) report (2017) – 85% of lakes polluted.
- NITI Aayog’s Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) report (2018) – Bengaluru among 21 cities running out of groundwater by 2030.

Authorities’ Response

A National Issue

Bengaluru’s crisis reflects a looming threat for most Indian cities.
CWMI report (2018): 21 cities, including Bengaluru, face groundwater depletion by 2030.
Potential 6% loss in India’s GDP by 2050 due to water scarcity (NITI Aayog).
Lack of proper water management across Indian cities.

Potential Solutions

Supply Management:
- Repair leaky pipes to reduce water loss.
- Explore alternative sources (rainwater harvesting, treated wastewater, desalination).
- Promote water-efficient agriculture (drip irrigation).
Demand Management:
- Public awareness campaigns for water conservation.
- Tiered water tariffs to incentivize conservation.
- Promote water-saving technologies (low-flow showerheads, faucets).
Improved Governance:
- Install water meters for fair billing and identify high-consumption areas.
- Strengthen water management institutions and inter-stakeholder coordination.

Conclusion

Bengaluru’s crisis is a wake-up call for Indian cities to adopt sustainable water management practices to avert future scarcity.