One Nation, One Election: Pros and Cons of Simultaneous Elections in India
Description
One Nation, One Election: Pros and Cons of Simultaneous
Elections in India
Introduction
The concept of "One Nation, One
Election" envisions a scenario in which elections for all Indian states
and the Lok Sabha occur concurrently.
This would require reorganizing the
election schedule so that state and national elections align. In practical
terms, it means that voters would participate in both Lok Sabha and state
assembly elections on the same day, simultaneously or in a staggered manner if
necessary.
Background:
Simultaneous elections were the
standard practice until 1967. However, following the dissolution of certain
Legislative Assemblies in 1968 and 1969, this practice was disrupted. The idea
of returning to simultaneous elections was first suggested in the annual report
of the Election Commission in 1983. The Law Commission's report also made
reference to it in 1999. In January 2017, Niti Aayog prepared a working paper
on this subject. In April 2018, the Law Commission stated that at least
"five Constitutional recommendations" would be necessary to make this
a reality.
Implementation
Process:
The five constitutional amendments would require modifications to the following
articles:
- Article 83, which deals with the duration of Houses of Parliament.
- Article 85, which pertains to the dissolution of the Lok Sabha by
the President.
- Article 172, which relates to the duration of State legislatures.
- Article 174, which concerns the dissolution of State legislatures.
- Article 356, which deals with the imposition of President's Rule in
States.
Pros:
The primary advantages of 'One
Nation, One Election' include a reduction in the expenses associated with
conducting elections, as each separate election demands a significant amount of
financial resources. Simultaneous elections would also alleviate the workload
on administrative and security forces, who would otherwise be engaged multiple
times for election duties.
This approach would enable the
government to concentrate more on governance rather than being in a perpetual
election mode, which often hampers policy implementation.
According to the Law Commission,
simultaneous elections are likely to increase voter turnout because it would be
more convenient for people to cast multiple votes at once.
Furthermore, it can promote
consistency in the policies and programs of both central and state governments.
Currently, the Model Code of Conduct is enforced whenever elections are
scheduled, leading to a ban on launching new projects for public welfare during
that period.
Cons:
National and state issues are
distinct, and holding simultaneous elections is likely to influence the
judgment of voters.
Since elections would only occur once
every five years, it might reduce the government's accountability to the
people. Repeated elections help to keep legislators vigilant and responsive.
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