The concept of One Nation, One Election is familiar to India. After independence, Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections coincided from 1951 to 1967. However, starting in 1968 and 1969, some state assemblies were dissolved prematurely, followed by the premature dissolution of the Lok Sabha in 1970. This led to the deterioration of the synchronized election system, resulting in elections occurring at different times. More recently, this idea was present before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. This time NITI Aayog prepared a working paper in 2017 that advocates it. In 2018 the Law Commission was also in favor of it, asserting that such simultaneous Lok Sabha elections with Legislative Assembly elections could help avert policy paralysis.
Previous Committees and Reports
Numerous committees have previously addressed the idea of One Nation, One Election. The 1999 Commission on Electoral Reforms, led by Justice BP Jeevan Reddy, presented Report 178. Additionally, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel Public Governance discussed the matter in a 2015 report.
Legal Amendments Required
In realizing this strategy, constitutional amendments and amendments to the Representation of the People Act, of 1951 will be essential. Some of them are, fixing the terms of the government to be enforced and creating new election procedures. Provisions that are in contention include Article 83 which is on the duration of parliament, Article 85 which deals with the dissolution of Lok Sabha, Article 172 on the duration of state legislature and Article 356 which is under President’s Rule[1]. The Cabinet of the Union has affirmed the One Nation, One Election. Proposal to conduct elections for Lok Sabha, State Assembly, and Panchayat at all levels at the same time[2]. This has been one of the most important promises of the NDA government since its inception in 2014. Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently confirmed the government’s intention to implement it within this term.
Formation of a High-Powered Committee
The Prime Minister called a special session of the Parliament and in the backdrop of this, our President Ram Nath Kovind under his chairmanship, secretly formed a committee. It was given the task to explore whether we can bring one nation to one election in India at present. A high-powered committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind was formed in 2023 to explore its feasibility.
The former president Ram Nath Kovind has been asked to explore whether the elections of all the states and the center in India at this time can be conducted at the same time. On 14 March, this committee submitted a report to the current President, Droupadi Murmu The report spans 21 volumes and consists of 18,626 pages, including 11 anecdotes[3]. The committee included members such as Home Minister Amit Shah, former Finance Commissioner NK Singh, senior advocate Harish Salve, ex-leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, and former CVC Sanjay Kothari.
This will give the main things like conducting elections for the Lok Sabha, all State assemblies, municipalities, and panchayats at the same time. This plan aims to reduce how often elections happen and lessen the money burden. The committee also suggested a step-by-step way to put simultaneous elections into action first by lining up Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas then Panchayat and Municipal elections.
Constitutional Framework and Challenges
India got its freedom on 15 August 1947 and approved its Constitution on 26 January 1950. The Constitution states that it holds the highest power in setting up a parliament system with Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. A similar setup was made at the state level with Legislative Assemblies and Councils. The Constitution also states procedures to elect the President and Vice President. The first Lok Sabha elections took place under this new constitutional system. This idea has advantages like cutting down on government costs keeping development projects going, and stopping the flow of money during elections.
Advantages of One Nation, One Election
The centre says that one country one election is a major step towards electoral reforms. According to the panel’s recommendation two major constitutional amendments will be required to implement the one-country electoral scheme in India. Article 83 and 172 of the constitution should be amended accordingly.
Challenges and Concerns
The expert’s opinion is that the government faces various practical problems in addition to the problem of passing the bill for a single country to implement a single electoral scheme. In 1983 the demand to hold the parliamentary and assembly elections in India simultaneously was raised[4]. However, the Indra Gandhi government at the center did not give importance to it. The Law Commission of India then recommended elections to parliament and assemblies in 1999 at that time the Bharatiya Janata Party led a national democratic alliance government.
Fear of conflict with states the 7th schedule of the constitution of India deals with the devolution of powers between the states and the central government in various matters. In the Kesavananda Bharati Sripadagalvaru & Ors. v. State of Kerala & Anr. Case the Supreme Court has made it clear that it can make any amendment to the Constitution but cannot change its basic structure.
Implementation and Opposition to One Nation, One Election: Recent Developments and Future Prospects
The report recommended simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies as a first step, followed by synchronized local elections within 100 days. It has been reported that it will be tabled as a bill in the upcoming winter session of Parliament, which is seen as a cost control measure and will significantly reduce the financial and administrative burden of frequent elections. However, the opposition parties are strongly opposing the One Country One Election scheme. Opposition parties are saying that this is impossible.
Prime Minister has been insisting on the ‘One Nation One Election’ system since the formation of the BJP government in 2014. The opposition is saying that this is not possible. The Election Commission of India has decided to hold assembly elections in some states during the Lok Sabha elections to be held in 2024[5]. Even if the single country single electoral system is not currently possible, it is predicted that it will be fully implemented in the next 10 or 15 years.The various benefits that India will get from this election system are presented on behalf of the central government.
A statistic says that around Rs 60,000 crore was spent on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections alone. This includes the expenditure of the Central Government as well as the expenditure of the political parties. If we include assembly elections in this, the cost of elections will exceed several thousand crores[6]. It is said that most of this expenditure will be saved for India. A committee has been set up to look into one country and one election.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress Lok Sabha Speaker Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary, former Rajya Sabha Speaker Ghulam Nabi Azad, Chairman of the 15th Finance Committee N.K. Singh, former Lok Sabha General Secretary Subhash Kashyap, senior advocate Harish Salve and former Central Anti-Corruption Bureau chief Sanjay Kothari have been appointed. In this situation, it has been announced that public suggestions can be given by January 15 regarding the holding of simultaneous elections in the country. One country. In the notice issued by the Secretary of the Election Commission, the amendment of the laws relating to the election and the change in the administrative structure may be sent.
References
- Election Commission of India, (1984). First Annual Report (1983). Election Commission of India, GoI. https://eci.gov.in/files/file/7447-first-annual-report-1983/
- PTI, (2019). “Election 2019: 2.7 Lakh Paramilitary, 20 Lakh State Police Personnel Deployed For Lok Sabha Polls.” Bloomberg Quint April 28 2019. https://www.bloombergquint.com/elections/election-2019-27-lakhparamilitary-20-lakh-state-police-personnel-deployed-for-lok-sabha-polls
- Sinha, Roshni, (2019). “Model Code of Conduct and the 2019 General Elections”. PRS India Blog March 11, 2019. https://prsindia.org/theprsblog/model-code-conduct-and-2019-general-elections
- https://onoe.gov.in/
- https://onoe.gov.in/HLC-Report-en
[1] Sinha, Roshni, (2019). “Model Code of Conduct and the 2019 General Elections”. PRS India Blog March 11, 2019. https://prsindia.org/theprsblog/model-code-conduct-and-2019-general-elections
[2] Election Commission of India, (1984). First Annual Report (1983). Election Commission of India, GoI. https://eci.gov.in/files/file/7447-first-annual-report-1983/
[3] https://thewire.in/government/one-nation-one-election-one-party-one-leader
[4] https://onoe.gov.in/HLC-Report-en
[6] PTI, (2019). “Election 2019: 2.7 Lakh Paramilitary, 20 Lakh State Police Personnel Deployed For Lok Sabha Polls.” Bloomberg Quint April 28 2019. https://www.bloombergquint.com/elections/election-2019-27-lakhparamilitary-20-lakh-state-police-personnel-deployed-for-lok-sabha-polls
Author: K. Lakshmi and G.J. Naveena are 4th Year BA.LLB(HONS) students at SASTRA Deemed University
