Demystifier: ED Original where the content is written in such a way that it is knowledgeable and easy to comprehend at the same time.
‘One nation, one election’ is a proposal that deals with conducting the entire process of elections in India simultaneously.
Countries like Sweden, South Africa, Belgium and the United Kingdom, are among the ones that follow such a practice. In 2017, Nepal also followed this path, as it adopted a new Constitution, thus making it mandatory to conduct elections at all levels immediately.
What is the proposal of ‘one nation, one election’? Is it feasible for India to adopt it? Even if it is, how will it carry it out? Here we demystify all these questions for you.
What Is The Proposal?
‘One nation, one election’ is an idea that proposes conducting Lok Sabha, state and local body elections at the same time of the year. Four electoral cycles have taken place under this practice, from independence to 1967.
The untimely dissolution of a few state governments in 1968 and 1969, along with the termination of even the Lok Sabha in 1970 broke the cycle of simultaneous elections.
Currently, the elections of only seven states coincide with that of the central government. For example, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim are the ones who voted for a new government at the same time as the country was selecting its union government, that is, between April – June 2024.
Similarly, Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand go for elections in the second half of the general election year. It is October 5, 2024, for Haryana this time while the dates for the other two states are yet to be announced.
Moreover, Jammu and Kashmir is heading for its first Assembly elections this year, since 2014.
What Do The Reports Say?
A report by the panel led by the former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, was submitted to the Union Cabinet and highlighted unanimous support for the ‘one nation, one election’ proposal.
The report believed that such a practice could “transform the electoral process” and that 32 political parties, and retired, high-ranking members of the judiciary, were in support of it.
The report recommended first holding the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls together, after which the local body elections could be conducted within 100 days.
Read More: One Nation, One Election: Can India Ever Go Back To Simultaneous Elections?
The Procedure:
The report will now be placed before Parliament during the winter session, likely to begin in early December. Both the bills, one in line with Lok Sabha and Assembly elections and the other one with municipal and panchayat polls, must be passed by Parliament. However, BJP, the ruling party is short of the ‘special’ majority mark, by 52 in Rajya Sabha and 72 in the Lok Sabha. Thus, it depends on opposition too, to pass the bill.
Adding on, amendments to Article 83 (duration of Parliament Houses), Article 85 (dissolution of Lok Sabha by the President), Article 172 (duration of state legislatures) and Article 174 (dissolution of state legislatures) need to be made.
Moreover, the second bill which talks about elections in local bodies and panchayats will require ratification by half or more than half of all states.
The Benefits And Problems Of Such A Practice:
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) says that one nation, one election will boost economic growth at all levels by allowing governments to give more attention to governance and policy-making, and will also increase voter turnout.
The supporters of this idea also say that such a practice will strengthen supply chains, as otherwise, the labourers have to take frequent leaves and travel back to their hometowns to cast votes.
“If some state elections are advanced or kept on hold, 10-15 polls can be held together… If we save this money India won’t have to wait for 2047, but will achieve its ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India) dreams much before,” said Anurag Thakur, former Union Minister.
However, the Opposition lays out the problems that will come hand in hand with this proposal.
When the report by Kovind’s panel was cleared by the Centre, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that it was “an attempt to divert the attention of the public” before the onset of elections in Haryana. “This is not going to succeed… the people will not accept it,” he added.
The Chief Minister (CM) of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee called the “design to subvert the basic structure of the Constitution” while MK Stalin, CM of Tamil Nadu says that it is an “impractical idea”.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) along with the Samajwadi Party are also among the opposers of the proposal. The cost of replacing the electronic voting machines (EVMs) once every 15 years and the various constitutional challenges that come in while breaking the existing electoral cycles and then aligning them in such a way that they coincide with the 2029 general elections are other problems brought to light by the critics.
The Election Commission in January 2024, said that approximately ₹ 10,000 crore will be required to replace EVMs every 15 years to carry out the ‘one nation, one election’ policy, along with increased security, vehicles, and better and improved storage facilities.
The Centre has approved the proposal but whether the Parliament passes the bills and such a practice turns into reality or not, is a question that only time will answer.
Sources: Times Of India, Moneycontrol, NDTV
Image Source: Google Images
This post is tagged under: one nation, one election, BJP, Congress, party, Parliament, EVM, elections, electoral, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha
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