In a groundbreaking move that could reshape India's electoral landscape, the Union cabinet has approved the concept of 'One Nation, One Election'. The idea had been on the 2024 Election manifestoso of Bhartiya Janta Party & brought up at various ocassions, It aims to synchronize elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies. As India stands on the cusp of this potential transformation, let's delve into the intricacies of this ambitious proposal and its far-reaching implications.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that a special group will be created to implement the committee’s recommendations, which were led by former President Ram Nath Kovind. Over the coming months, there will be detailed discussions on this across the country.

Vaishnaw also explained that the plan will be carried out in two phases. In the first phase, Lok Sabha and state assembly elections will be synchronized. In the second phase, local body elections will be held within 100 days of the first.

What Is The Concept Of ‘One Nation One Election’?

The central idea behind the proposal on One Nation One Election is to streamline the election process by holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, and eventually for local bodies. This would ensure that elections across the country occur at the same time, reducing the current fragmented electoral cycle.

History of Simultaneous Elections

The initial general elections in 1951–1952, which took place concurrently with every Vidhan Sabha poll, introduced the idea of simultaneous elections. This practice persisted until 1967, when the tendency was broken by hung assemblies. The concurrent poll calendar was thrown off course in the years that followed with several instances of prematurely dissolved state assemblies and Lok Sabhas.

Elections for state assemblies and the Lok Sabha are currently held separately, either when the current government completes its five-year term or when it dissolves for any number of reasons.

High Level Committee

The Government of India hereby constituted this High Level Committee [hereinafter referred to as ‘HLC’] to examine the issue of simultaneous elections and make recommendations for holding simultaneous elections in the country. The panel, that is headed by Ram Nath Kovind and included Home Minister Amit Shah, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, outlined provisions for a 'unity government' in cases of an indefinite result or a no-confidence motion; it had been tasked with recommending such solutions. They submitted their Report (comprising 18,626 pages) to President Droupadi Murmu.

HLC has suggested a 2-step process to synchronize election cycles of the 3 tiers of government.

The committee recommends creating a single electoral roll for all elections in order to guarantee consistency and effectiveness. This eliminates duplication and inaccuracies in voter registration since people will utilize the same list for federal, state, and local elections. In order to ensure a seamless transition to the simultaneous election model, the committee asks for the creation of an Implementation Group to supervise the implementation of these proposals.

Modi Govt Vs Rest

According to the current situation, 62 political parties were consulted by the Kovind panel. In total, opinions from 47 political parties were presented. Of these, 32 were in favor of it and 15 were against it. There are 234 Lok Sabha MPs who are part of the INDIA bloc and the parties that did not present their opinions to the panel.

Majorly the allies of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the friendly parties comprised the 32 parties that backed the move. The NDA partner, Telugu Desam Party, which did not give its opinion to the panel, has said that it, however, supports the move in principle.

The Lok Sabha Scenario

The BJP doesn't have a majority in Lok Sabha, unlike two previous terms. It will rely on its NDA allies and friendly parties to get the bills passed.

In terms of strength in the Lok Sabha, the parties supporting the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal comprise 271 MPs in lower house, including 240 BJP MPs. This is just one short of a 271 simple majority in the Lok Sabha.

What Comes Next?

The success of the One Nation, One Election initiative depends on Parliament passing two Two Constitution Amendment Bills must be passed by Parliament and get broad support from a variety of political parties in order for the One Nation, One Election plan to be implemented successfully.

The majority of the 18 constitutional reforms that the Ram Nath Kovind committee has recommended won't require state assemblies to ractify them. But in order to implement these, Parliament would need to approve specific bills amending the Constitution. Changes to Article 83, which sets the Lok Sabha's term, and Article 172, which deals with state assembly' tenure, are among the things involved in this. There are a lot of difficulties associated with the Representation of People's Act, 1951 as well as amendments to important provisions like 83, 85(2)(B), 174(2)(B), 356, and 75(3).

Complications include making sure there is enough security personnel, polling, and EVM availability. Some proposed changes regarding the single electoral roll and single voter ID card would need ratification by at least half of the states. Bills to this effect are likely to be introduced in Parliament during the upcoming winter session.

Meanwhile, the Law Commission, on its part, is expected to propose synchronized polls across all three levels of government – Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies such as municipalities and panchayats – by 2029. They are also considering a provision for unity governments in cases of hung houses or no-confidence motions.

Does ‘One nation, One election’ violate the principle of Federalism in the country?

The clear response to this is "No." It would take a naive person to believe that federalism entails completely independent state elections held at each state's discretion from federal elections. One of the responsibilities of a national government is to guarantee free and fair elections under the direction of the Election Commission. The federal system will endure as long as the states maintain their elected governments and the federal government and state governments follow the constitutional provisions pertaining to the separation of powers and other principles. The argument that simultaneous elections endanger federalism is being made by people in the wrong context.

Benefits of Simultaneous Elections

Supporters believe that holding elections together can save a lot of money, make the process more efficient, and might increase voter participation. Reports suggest that around ₹60,000 crore was spent during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. This includes expenses by political parties and the Election Commission of India. A large part of the cost comes from repeatedly deploying and moving security personnel. During elections, regular government work is often neglected, and the time spent on election duties is not included in the official budget. According to the Election Commission, about 25% of the country is involved in different elections each year.

The High-Level Committee (HLC) also argued that having elections at all three levels—Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies—will reduce disruptions to supply chains and production because migrant workers won’t need to take multiple leaves to vote.

Conclusion: Paving the Way for a Unified Electoral System

The ' One Nation, One Election ' proposal is a bold and ambitious step towards electoral reform in India. By streamlining election cycles and enhancing efficiency, it holds the promise of reducing costs and ensuring smoother governance. However, this transformation will not come without challenges, particularly in ensuring the balance between federalism and national unity. As the country gears up for detailed discussions and legislative processes, the debate on this reform will shape the future of India's democratic system. Will it be a game-changer or face resistance? Only time will tell.