What is one nation one election?
The one nation one election concept in India is a proposal to hold simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha (the lower house of the Parliament) and all the state assemblies across the country. This means that the voters would cast their votes for both the central and the state governments at the same time, instead of having separate and staggered elections as it is currently done.
How old is this debate of one nation one election, why still date it could not be done?
The debate of one nation one election in India is not a new one. It dates back to the first general elections held in 1951-52, when simultaneous elections were held for the Lok Sabha and all state assemblies. This practice continued till 1967, but was disrupted in 1968-69, when some state assemblies were dissolved prematurely. Since then, the idea of holding simultaneous elections has been revived several times by various commissions, committees, and political leaders.
The reason why it could not be done till date is because of the various legal, constitutional, and practical challenges involved in implementing this concept. Some of the major hurdles are:
The reason why it could not be done till date is because of the various legal, constitutional, and practical challenges involved in implementing this concept. Some of the major hurdles are:
1 It would require amendments to the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act, 1951, to synchronize the terms of the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies, and to provide for mechanisms to deal with situations of no-confidence motions, dissolution, dismissal, or emergency.
2 It would need the consent and cooperation of at least 50% of the states to ratify the constitutional amendments, as well as the consensus of all the political parties, which may have different views and interests on this issue.
3 It would pose logistical and operational difficulties in terms of procuring enough electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines, ensuring adequate security arrangements, training election staff, conducting voter education campaigns, and resolving disputes and complaints.
4 It would affect the federal structure and diversity of India, as it may create a tendency to vote for the same party or alliance at both the levels, ignoring the regional and local issues and aspirations. This may favour national parties over regional parties and erode the autonomy and identity of the states.
What are pros and cons of 'one nation one election concept' in India?
The one nation one election concept in India has both pros and cons, depending on the perspective and the criteria of evaluation. Here are some of the possible advantages and disadvantages of this concept:
Pros:
Pros:
1 It would save time and money, as conducting elections is a costly and time-consuming affair. According to a report by the Law Commission of India, simultaneous elections could save up to Rs 4,500 crore of public money .
2 It would reduce the burden on the election machinery and security forces, as they would not have to be deployed repeatedly for different elections. This would also free up their resources and personnel for other duties .
3 It would avoid frequent imposition of the model code of conduct, which restricts the government from announcing or implementing any new policies or schemes during the election period. This would ensure continuity and stability in governance and development .
4 It would increase voter turnout, as voters would be more motivated and aware to participate in both the central and the state elections at the same time. This would also reduce voter fatigue and confusion .
Cons:
Cons:
1 It would require constitutional amendments and changes in the electoral laws, such as synchronizing the terms of the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies, providing for no-confidence motions and constructive votes of confidence, and dealing with situations of dissolution, dismissal, or emergency .
2 It would undermine the federal structure and diversity of India, as it would create a tendency to vote for the same party or alliance at both the levels, ignoring the regional and local issues and aspirations. This would favour national parties over regional parties and erode the autonomy and identity of the states.
3 It would dilute the importance of local issues and aspirations, as voters would be influenced by the national agenda and media coverage, rather than focusing on the performance and accountability of their respective state governments. This would also reduce the scope for issue-based voting and policy debates .
4 It would pose practical challenges in terms of logistics, coordination, and management, such as procuring enough electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines, ensuring adequate security arrangements, training election staff, conducting voter education campaigns, and resolving disputes and complaints .
What are some other countries that have simultaneous elections?
Some other countries that have simultaneous elections are:
Sweden: Sweden holds elections for the national parliament (Riksdag), the county councils, and the municipal councils every four years on the same day, usually in September. Sweden has a proportional electoral system, which means that political parties are assigned a number of seats in the elected assembly based on their share of the vote.
Sweden: Sweden holds elections for the national parliament (Riksdag), the county councils, and the municipal councils every four years on the same day, usually in September. Sweden has a proportional electoral system, which means that political parties are assigned a number of seats in the elected assembly based on their share of the vote.
Belgium: Belgium holds elections for the federal parliament, the regional parliaments, and the European parliament every five years on the same day, usually in May. Belgium also has a proportional electoral system, which means that political parties are assigned a number of seats in the elected assembly based on their share of the vote.
South Africa: South Africa holds elections for the national parliament (National Assembly) and the provincial legislatures every five years on the same day, usually in April or May. South Africa has a mixed electoral system, which means that some members of the elected assembly are chosen from party lists based on their share of the vote, while others are elected from single-member constituencies.
Which committee was set up to enquire into the one nation one election?
The committee that was set up to enquire into the one nation one election concept in India is the High Level Committee (HLC) under the Ministry of Law and Justice. The HLC was notified on September 2, 2023, and is headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind. The other members of the HLC are:
- Home Minister Amit Shah
- Former leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad
- Former Finance Commission chairman N K Singh
- Former Lok Sabha Secretary General Subhash C Kashyap
- Senior advocate Harish Salve
- Former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Sanjay Kothari
- Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal (as a special invitee)
- Legal Affairs Secretary Niten Chandra (as secretary to the panel)
The HLC's task is to examine the feasibility of holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, the state assemblies, the municipalities, and the panchayats, and to recommend constitutional and legislative amendments, safeguards, and logistical solutions for implementing this concept.
- Home Minister Amit Shah
- Former leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad
- Former Finance Commission chairman N K Singh
- Former Lok Sabha Secretary General Subhash C Kashyap
- Senior advocate Harish Salve
- Former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Sanjay Kothari
- Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal (as a special invitee)
- Legal Affairs Secretary Niten Chandra (as secretary to the panel)
The HLC's task is to examine the feasibility of holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, the state assemblies, the municipalities, and the panchayats, and to recommend constitutional and legislative amendments, safeguards, and logistical solutions for implementing this concept.