The renewed debate on simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies has brought electoral reform back into national focus. A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is currently examining bills to implement simultaneous state and national elections in the interest of stability, efficiency, and reduced expenditure.

While these objectives might be reasonable, the current debate risks addressing the symptoms of democratic dysfunction rather than its underlying causes. The question before the nation is not merely whether elections should be held simultaneously, but whether the present electoral system is fulfilling its original constitutional purpose.

India adopted universal adult franchise at independence with extraordinary faith in the wisdom of its citizens. Elections were conceived as a mechanism through which individuals chosen by the people would represent their aspirations in governance. The ballot paper itself reflects this design: voters choose among candidates, not political parties.

Yet over the decades, the system has gradually shifted from being a contest between individuals to a de facto contest between organised political formations. This transformation has had profound consequences for accountability, representation, and the quality of leadership.

The deeper problem is not the timing of elections but the design of the political process itself. Instability in coalition governments, often cited as justification for sweeping........

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