Panaji

Shantaram Naik, ex-MP, and President of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee in a letter e-mailed by him today to the Union Minister of Finance, has said that any discussion for holding simultaneous polls in the country has to be on the basis of a draft bill and note on the basis of a note prepared by EC, however exhaustive it may be.
Naik in his letter to Jaitley has said that recently, newspapers are reporting that the Election Commission of India is in favour of holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, however, Naik says that the proposition in principle may appear to be attractive, an important body like Election Commission of India, it is shocking, has no regard to the basic structure of the constitution and to the Parliamentary democracy adopted by the country.
The Election Commission has, time and again, taken shelter under the principle of basic structure, which he personally believe, Naik said, does not exist, but which is required to be followed as, under article 141 the Constitution, decisions of SC are to be respected as law of the land.
Naik wants to know as to what solutions EC has proposed in the event of a possible defeat of the government of the day, on the floor of the House and of the governments in States on the floor of their respective Houses, upon the breakdown of the constitutional machinery.
Is showing of alternate government proposals is what EC has proposed and, if so, if alternate government is not proposed, are the minority legislators, according to EC, to run the governments ?, Naik asks,
In fact, any discussion with respect to the holding of simultaneous elections has to be held on the basis of a draft bill and not on the basis of a prepared note, however exhaustive it may be, Naik says in his letter.
It is only if specific provisions are put forth before the nation that people will realise whether simultaneous polls are a viable proposition or not, Naik says.
People will also get an opportunity to gauge whether those intending to propose simultaneous polls have a hidden agenda in mind, under which, chaos and confusion should prevail throughout the country, giving scope for establishing a fascist regime to rule India.
Since Hon President of India, the Vice-President, Prime Minister of India, President of major national party come from RSS background and also, with the top advisory body of BJP itself being RSS, the day is not too far away when a few handful elements, may attempt to come out in open to give a permanent burial to Indian democracy, Naik fears.
The NITI Ayog is poking its nose in every sphere of government activity. Why not ask the Ayog whether they have any magic solution in the matter, which I am sure, they will not have any, Mr Naik says giving a taunt to the extra constitutional advises of the Ayog.
Election Commission of India should be advised, through Union Law Ministry not to indulge in futile exercise without making a proper study of provisions of Indian Constitution.
Had the Commission made the required study of Indian Constitution the Commission would not have issued Circulars and given Directions outside the scope of article 324, openly encroaching upon the powers of Parliament, Naik says.
Indian Parliament might have neglected to give serious thought to the recommendations made by them as regards electoral reforms but, that does not give power to EC to issue Circulars/Directions and usurp powers of Parliament, Naik says.
Referring, to for Chief Election Commissioner, Shri TN Sheshan, though without naming, Naik says that arrogance of a former Chief Election Commissioner can be imagined from the fact that Shri Sheshan had said, once said that Commission’s power under article 324 is superior to the legislative powers of Parliament