Let’s talk about ‘one candidate, multiple constituencies’
The HinduEver since the panel for ‘One Nation One Election’ led by the former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, recommended simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, much has been written on its positive and negative aspects, the practical considerations and of course the politics around the subject. This resulted in candidates contesting from multiple constituencies, sometimes more than two, winning them and vacating all but one seat, in accordance with Section 70 of the same Act. Contesting multiple constituencies, winning them, and vacating one for a by-election violates Article 19 of the Constitution. First, amend Section 33 of the RP Act 1951 to ban one candidate contesting from multiple constituencies for the same office.