Written by: Akshat Pandey, 4th-semester LL.B. , Allahabad State University
"One Nation, One Election: A Bold Step Towards Simplifying India's Electoral Landscape"
India's democracy operates on multiple levels each with its own election cycle. These elections happen every five years but at different times. The government now wants to sync them so, a panel led by the former President, Mr. Ram Nath Kovind, proposed holding state and general elections together in its extensive report. It also recommended local body elections within 100 days of state and general elections and if a government loses its power, fresh polls would be held but its tenure would last only until the next synchronized election under the “Unified Electoral Reform " plan.
The Union Cabinet after consultation has approved the Unified Electoral System, a landmark move towards synchronizing electoral processes across India. This proposal seeks to multiple constitutional amendments under the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
The two bills are the legal scaffolding for what the government has grandly branded "One Nation, One Election (ONOE)". To enable simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies through the amendment in the articles and the insertion of new articles i.e., article 82A and article 324A.
Implementing ONOE also requires changes to the provisions around elections contained in Part XV of the Constitution. The bills propose amendments to Articles 83, 172 and 324 of the Constitution, establishing a mechanism where voters would cast ballots for both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies on the same day and at the same polling booth, along with the amendments to Article 325, which governs electoral rolls.
The bill was introduced by Law Minister Mr. Arjun Ram Meghwal in the parliament and this transformative initiative aims to implement the simultaneous election model in two phases thereby potentially revolutionizing India's electoral landscape.
Tracing the Roots of a Vision for Unified Electoral Reform
India began its democratic journey with synchronized elections for the Lok Sabha and all State Legislative Assemblies. The elections were successfully conducted in 1957, 1962, and 1967, ensuring political and administrative stability. But the cycle was disrupted due to the premature dissolution of some State Assemblies in 1968-1969, notably in Haryana and Kerala and also in 1970; the Lok Sabha was dissolved before completing its term, leading to separate election cycles for the Lok Sabha and various State Assemblies.
However, efforts to revive the system have been debated for decades, with proposals from the several think tanks, such like:
∙ The “Election Commission” in its annual report (1983) had recommended that a system should be evolved so that elections could be held simultaneously.
∙ The “Law Commission” in its 170th report in 1999 stated that we must go back to the past where the elections to Lok Sabha and all the Vidhan Sabha were held simultaneously.
∙ Report of “National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC)”, 2002 recommended measures to improve the integrity and efficiency of the electoral process and also ensuring that the provisions to declare an emergency are not misused.
∙ “Parliamentary Committee” 79th Report (2015) suggested methods for simultaneous elections in two phases.
∙ The “NITI Aayog” observed in its 2017 discussion paper that, “India is perennially in election mode”.
∙ The drafted report of “Law Commission of India” in 2018 also suggested Simultaneous Elections.
Recently, the Government formed a high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind and other 8 members, proposed holding State
and General elections together in its extensive 18,626 page report published March 14, 2024 and have laid a ground for ONOE by overcoming all the odds.
Why India Needs a Unified Electoral System for Progress and Efficiency?
The 'One Nation, One Election' concept seeks to minimize the divisive influence of regionalism, casteism, and communalism in voter mobilization. By prioritizing national issues and promoting a cohesive electoral agenda, simultaneous elections can help move beyond narrow interests and strengthen national unity.
Elections mean a recurring halt to governance. The Model Code of Conduct, a moral and procedural curb on government spending and announcements during election periods, freezes policymaking for months in poll-bound states. Economists suggest that this uninterrupted governance could boost India’s GDP growth rate by up to 1.5-2% annually. For a $3.7 trillion economy like India, this translates to an additional $55-70 billion in annual economic output.
Simultaneous elections can drastically cut down the enormous financial burden on the government and political parties. It is estimated that diminishing the frequency of elections could result in savings ranging from Rs 7,500 crore to Rs 12,000 crore.
Frequent elections force governments into perpetual campaign mode, straining security forces from their primary duty, delaying long-term decision-making and disrupt local economies. ONOE would limit the MCC’s imposition to once every five years, ensuring uninterrupted governance, economic activity, enhanced national security and focus on development rather than short-term electoral gains.
The concept of holding simultaneous elections has been embraced by several countries, including:
∙ South Africa: Elections to the National Assembly and provincial legislatures occur simultaneously every five years.
∙ Sweden: The Prime Minister of Sweden is elected by the legislature every four years.
∙ Germany: The Chancellor of Germany is elected by the legislature every four years.
∙ Britain: The Fixed-term Parliaments Act, 2011 was passed to provide a sense of stability and predictability to the British Parliament and its tenure. It provided that the first elections would be held on the 7th of May, 2015 and on the first Thursday of May every fifth year thereafter.
With ONOE’s implementation, India will be able to have good governance as parties will not always be in campaign mode, as also mentioned by the NITI Aayog in its report of 2017. Taxpayer’s money will be spent on a one time election. Offering of freebies right before an election will also be reduced and policy based spending will be observed. ONOE is hence an important art for the ask of nation building.
Navigating the Setbacks and Challenges of a Unified Electoral System
ONOE bill has been controversial and has received a lot of backlash from the opposition parties as with over 900 million eligible voters, election officials would require extensive planning and resources.
There is a huge possibility that while conducting elections simultaneously to the Lok Sabha and all State assemblies would result in national issues overshadowing regional and State specific issues. unified elections may create a system where national political parties would have a significant advantage over regional parties.
Samajwadi party Chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised the bill and said, if the bill passes “autocracy” will take place of democracy and the country will "move towards dictatorship". This statement can be further analyzed in light of the precedent set in the 'S.R. Bommai v/s Union of India' case in March 1994. However, thirty years later; the committee's composition failed to reflect the federal nature of the Constitution, as it did not include a single Chief Minister or representative of states.
Despite facing criticism, the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill successfully passed its introductory phase with 269 votes in favor and 198 against. However, the bill requires the approval of two-thirds of the members present, and the BJP-led alliance holds only a simple majority in Parliament, which poses a challenge in achieving the two-thirds majority.
Concluding the Journey towards a Unified Electoral Future
The Law Minister, who while addressing concerns regarding the bill, assured the house that it would not interfere with the autonomy or powers of the States. He dismissed opposition claims that the bill violated the basic structure doctrine and assured that the legislation adhered to constitutional principles.
The measures contained in the provisions outlined in the 'S.R. Bommai v/s Union of India' and 'Indira Gandhi vs Raj Narain' cases must be adhered to, as they examine the provisions of the 'Representation of the People Act, 1951' and establish guidelines for ensuring free and fair elections.
The implementation of ONOE presents a transformative vision for India's political landscape by promising to increase in the efficiency of governance and reduce the cost associated with periodic elections. Despite the potential for improved policy and more effective administration, the oppositions attention are still on serious concerns regarding the impact on federalism, local representation and the practical challenges of implementation.
In relation to the mindset of the Indian voter, campaigns on behalf of Election Commissions can be launched educating the voters as to the key differentiations between a poll on the State and National level. The Campaign can also be used to educate the voters on what issues are called State issues and what issues can be called national issues, which would enable the voters to make an informed choice.
As India navigates this complex issue, it is crucial to have in-depth discussions, consider all points of view, and ensure that any reforms uphold the principles of democracy and fair representation.
Reference list
The report is available online at:
∙ https://legalaffairs.gov.in Dristi IAS
Next IAS
Indian Express
India Today
Hindustan Times
New India Express
Times of India
Vision IAS
Chahal Academy
S.R. Bommai v/s Union of India
Indira Gandhi vs Raj Narain
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