The “One Nation One Election” proposal is an initiative to synchronize the electoral calendars of various levels of government in India. The primary objective is to hold all elections across India simultaneously, thereby reducing the frequency of polls and streamlining the electoral process.
The idea behind this proposal is to cut down on the costs involved in separate elections. For instance, a whopping ₹60,000 crore was spent on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. By holding simultaneous elections, it is believed that the costs can be significantly reduced. Moreover, supporters argue that it will increase efficiency in the administrative setup throughout the country, as normal administrative duties are affected by elections.
However, there are certain drawbacks to this proposal. Holding simultaneous elections would require constitutional amendments to sync up the terms of the state legislative assemblies with that of the Lok Sabha. Regional parties have expressed concerns that they would not be able to raise their local issues strongly as national issues take center stage. Additionally, they might be unable to compete with national parties in terms of election expenditure and strategy.
Pros & Cons
“One Nation, One Election” (ONOE) is a concept that proposes holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha (the lower house of India’s Parliament) and all state legislative assemblies in the country. While it aims to streamline the electoral process and reduce the frequency of elections, it has generated significant debate among politicians, scholars, and citizens. Here are some pros and cons of implementing “One Nation, One Election” in India:
Pros:
- Cost Savings:
- ONOE could potentially reduce the financial burden on the government and political parties by holding fewer elections. Frequent elections involve substantial expenditures on security, logistics, and administration.
2. Reduced Disruption:
- Frequent elections disrupt governance and development work. ONOE may provide more stability for governments to implement policies and programs without the constant distractions of election campaigns.
3. Voter Fatigue:
- Frequent elections can lead to voter fatigue, making citizens less interested and engaged in the electoral process. ONOE might help maintain higher voter participation and enthusiasm.
4. Administrative Efficiency:
- ONOE can lead to better coordination and efficient utilization of resources, as various levels of government can pool their efforts and resources for a single election.
5. Decentralization:
- ONOE can encourage states to align their legislative elections with the national elections, which may promote decentralization and strengthen the federal structure of India.
Cons:
- Constitutional Hurdles:
- Implementing ONOE requires a constitutional amendment, as the terms of state legislative assemblies and the Lok Sabha differ. Achieving political consensus for such an amendment is challenging.
2. Risk of Dominance:
- If a single party or coalition dominates the national political landscape, ONOE could lead to the same party or coalition dominating both the central and state governments, potentially undermining political diversity and checks and balances.
3. Loss of Regional Issues:
- Simultaneous elections may overshadow regional issues and concerns, as national issues tend to take center stage. This can lead to neglect of local and regional priorities.
4. Political Manipulation:
- ONOE could lead to political parties strategically aligning their state-level and national-level agendas, potentially undermining the autonomy of state governments and their ability to address regional problems.
5. Shortened Terms:
- Simultaneous elections may shorten the terms of some state governments, which could be seen as undemocratic by some and might not allow state governments enough time to implement their programs effectively.
6. Complexity:
- India is a diverse and complex nation, and coordinating elections across the country can be a logistical challenge. Ensuring fair and transparent elections on a large scale is not a trivial task.
In summary, “One Nation, One Election” has both advantages and disadvantages. While it could potentially save costs, reduce voter fatigue, and improve administrative efficiency, it also faces constitutional, political, and practical challenges. Deciding whether to implement ONOE requires careful consideration of these factors and a broad consensus among political parties and stakeholders.
How does India’s election process work
India has a parliamentary system of government, with power distributed between the central government and the states. India is the largest democracy in the world. The President of India is the ceremonial head of state of the country and supreme commander-in-chief for all defense forces in India. However, it is the Prime Minister of India, who is the leader of the party or political alliance having a majority in the national elections to the Lok Sabha.
The Lok Sabha, also known as the House of the People, is the lower house of India’s bicameral Parliament. Members are elected for a term of five years by universal adult suffrage. The Rajya Sabha, or Council of States, is the upper house of Parliament. Members are elected by members of legislative assemblies using proportional representation.
The Election Commission is responsible for monitoring and administering all electoral processes in India. It ensures that elections are free and fair, without any bias. Candidates are required to file their nomination papers with the Electoral Commission. Then, a list of candidates is published. No party is allowed to use government resources for campaigning. No party is allowed to bribe candidates before elections.
The election process officially begins when, on the recommendation of the Election Commission, the President issues a notification calling upon all eligible citizens to elect members of the Lok Sabha. The election process involves eight steps: formation of constituencies, filling of nominations, scrutiny of nominations, election campaign, polling personnel and polling, counting of votes and declaration of results, submission of account relating to election expenses, and disqualification on grounds of corrupt practices.
To learn more about India’s election process and its functions, you can refer to this source.
eci.gov.in, yourarticlelibrary.com, en.wikipedia.org, thehindu.com
