One Nation One Election: Toward Streamlined Governance in India | Essay for UPSC
The recent approval of the "One Nation, One Election" (ONOE) proposal by the Union Cabinet has sparked renewed debate and interest in the prospect of holding simultaneous elections across India. Following recommendations from a high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, the ONOE proposal seeks to streamline the election process for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies. Proponents believe it could enhance governance by reducing election frequency, cutting down costs, and promoting consistent policy-making, while opponents raise concerns about its implications for federalism, local representation, and logistical feasibility.
Read in Kannada: ಒಂದು ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರ ಒಂದು ಚುನಾವಣೆ ಪ್ರಬಂಧ
The Proposal: Recent Developments and Next Steps
With the Union Cabinet’s endorsement of the ONOE proposal, India has taken a significant step toward synchronizing elections across different levels of governance. However, implementing such a comprehensive reform requires navigating numerous challenges, including:
Constitutional Amendments: Changes to Articles 83 and 172 of the Constitution are essential to align the terms of the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Additionally, provisions concerning the premature dissolution of state assemblies and Lok Sabha must be addressed to allow for synchronized terms.
Phased Implementation: The plan aims to synchronize Lok Sabha and state assembly elections initially, followed by local body polls within 100 days. This phased approach aims to streamline transition while minimizing disruptions.
Consensus-Building: Broad political support is crucial. Opposition parties have expressed concerns about the ONOE model, fearing it may divert focus from state-specific issues to national narratives.
Implementation Group: A dedicated team has been formed to address the logistical, administrative, and legal challenges that accompany the implementation of ONOE. This group will focus on strategies to coordinate vast election operations across India’s diverse and widespread regions.
Historical Context and Evolution of the ONOE Debate
The idea of simultaneous elections is not new; India held unified elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies until 1967. However, political developments and dissolutions in the late 1960s disrupted this alignment, leading to the staggered election cycles we see today. The timeline of ONOE’s resurgence reflects a growing interest in simplifying electoral operations:
1952-1967: India held simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. This system aimed to ensure streamlined elections and efficient resource utilization.
1999-2000: The Law Commission, under Justice B.P. Jeevan Reddy, first proposed simultaneous elections to reduce costs and disruptions.
2014: Prime Minister Narendra Modi revived the concept, highlighting issues related to frequent elections, including rising costs and governance disruptions.
2017: NITI Aayog released a discussion paper supporting simultaneous elections, emphasizing how the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) interrupts governance.
2019: A committee headed by Ram Nath Kovind was appointed to explore the feasibility of ONOE. Recently, this committee’s findings have led to the Union Cabinet's approval of the ONOE proposal, with the 22nd Law Commission also expected to present its recommendations soon.
Advantages of ONOE
Cost Savings: Unified elections could lead to significant cost reductions. The 2019 Lok Sabha elections cost approximately ₹60,000 crore (around $8 billion), which could be minimized by holding a single, synchronized election.
Reduced Governance Disruption: ONOE would limit the frequent implementation of the MCC, which often stalls policy initiatives. A single, nationwide election cycle would enable uninterrupted governance, allowing governments to focus on long-term developmental goals.
Increased Voter Engagement: Consolidating elections could encourage higher voter turnout by reducing voter fatigue and allowing citizens to participate in one comprehensive electoral exercise.
Stability in Governance: By reducing the election frequency, ONOE allows elected officials more time to focus on governance without the distraction of constant campaigning.
Efficient Resource Utilization: Simultaneous elections would lessen the demand on security and administrative personnel, improving resource allocation.
Challenges of ONOE
Federalism Concerns: Critics argue that ONOE could centralize political narratives, potentially sidelining state and regional issues in favor of national themes, thereby impacting regional representation.
Political Consensus: Opposition parties worry that the ONOE model may weaken state-specific platforms, as simultaneous elections could amplify national issues over local ones.
Logistical and Administrative Complexity: Coordinating elections across India’s vast landscape poses a significant challenge. Ensuring ample EVMs, secure transportation, and adequate personnel for simultaneous elections is a massive logistical undertaking.
Constitutional Amendments and Legal Changes: Amending the Constitution to synchronize election cycles across the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies will require changes to multiple provisions and state ratifications, making it a complex, lengthy process.
Handling Mid-Term Dissolutions: The ONOE proposal must also address scenarios where state governments dissolve mid-term. To avoid disrupting the synchronized cycle, a provision for "caretaker" governments or other alternatives might be necessary.
Ramnath Kovind Committee Recommendations
The Kovind-led committee’s report outlines steps toward a smooth transition, including:
Two Key Bills: One bill focuses on Parliament's authority to legislate ONOE, incorporating changes for dissolution terms and including Union Territories, while the second bill addresses local body elections, requiring state ratification and proposing a Single Electoral Roll.
Bipartisan Cooperation: The report highlights the necessity for bipartisan support and outlines strategies for political coordination.
International Examples
Countries such as Sweden and South Africa have implemented simultaneous elections, showing it is feasible to streamline elections and improve governance. However, the success of such a system depends on the unique political, social, and administrative landscape of each nation.
Reasons for the Rise of Militant Nationalism
Conclusion
The recent Cabinet nod to the "One Nation, One Election" proposal marks a crucial step forward in India’s electoral reform journey. While ONOE offers numerous benefits—cost savings, streamlined governance, and voter engagement—its successful implementation hinges on addressing significant challenges like constitutional amendments, federal balance, and logistical coordination. Ultimately, ONOE could transform India’s political landscape, but only with meticulous planning, bipartisan support, and respect for the federal principles embedded in the Constitution.
