Why is India’s Modi pushing for simultaneous elections? Who would gain?

An Indian government committee has recommended that polls for local bodies to parliament be held together.

New Delhi, India – India has moved a step towards holding simultaneous elections for parliament, state legislatures and local bodies that could end the country’s relentless cycle of voting – about six states go to polls each year.

A nine-member high-level panel headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday recommended amendments to the constitution to hold national and regional polls together.

The move, supporters, say will save time and money while allowing political parties and governments to focus on policy and administration. However, critics say it would go against the federal structure and spirit of the Indian constitution, cloud local issues that get attention when state elections are held separately, and potentially turn all votes subsumed in the giant election exercise into a prime ministerial contest.

The panel’s recommendation won’t have any bearing on the national elections which will kick off in a few days — but the coming vote could set the stage for the plan’s execution five years from now.

Here’s what the controversy is about: