A “High Level Committee on One Nation, One Election” headed by former President Ramnath Kovind was formed by the Union Government in September 2023. The Committee has consulted with state and national political parties, as well as the general public and legal experts, and it is expected to provide recommendations. Concerns are raised over the proposal’s potential effects on India’s federal system and democratic framework.
What is the Central Idea behind One Nation-One
Election (ONOE)?
About: o According to the concept, every five years, all state elections will be held concurrently with the Lok Sabha federal elections.
The goal is to save time and money by streamlining the voting process and lowering the number of elections.
▪ Background: The concept was initially proposed by the Election Commission in 1983.
However, simultaneous elections were common in India up until 1967.
- In 1951–1952, all State Legislative Assemblies and the first General Elections to the House of People (Lok Sabha) took place at the same time.
- In the next three general elections, which took place in 1957, 1962, and 1967, that practice persisted.
However, the pattern was broken in 1968 and 1969 when many Legislative Assemblies were dissolved too soon.
- The Lok Sabha itself was dissolved too soon in 1970, and new elections were conducted in 1971. As a result, only the First, Second, and Third Lok Sabhas had complete five-year mandates until 1970.
Concurrent Elections in Other Places:
In South Africa, municipal elections are held two years after national and provincial legislature elections, which are held concurrently for five years.
Every four years on the second Sunday in September, Sweden holds elections for the national legislature (Riksdag), provincial legislatures/county councils (Landsting), and local bodies/municipal assemblies (Kommunfullmaktige).
What are the Various Benefits of Simultaneous
Elections or ONOE?
Reducing Governance Distractions: Regular elections cause the entire nation to focus on local representatives rather than top leaders, which virtually paralyses administration at all levels. This focus has a detrimental effect on India’s growth prospects and impedes efficient governance.
The impact of the Model Code of Conduct: Important policy decisions at the national and local levels are delayed by the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which is enforced during elections. Even ongoing projects encounter setbacks as election-related tasks take precedence, slowing down routine administration. ▪ Addressing Political Corruption: Regular elections exacerbate political corruption because large sums of money must be raised for each election.
By removing the need for recurring fundraising, simultaneous elections can significantly lower election costs for political parties.
Savings and Electoral Infrastructure: o In 1951–1952, 53 parties ran in the first Lok Sabha elections, with around 1874 candidates running and Rs. 11 crore spent on polling.
- According to the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), there were 610 political parties and almost 9,000 candidates in the 2019 elections; the political parties have not yet disclosed their polling costs, which totalled about Rs. 60,000 crores.
Using the same electoral rolls for all elections can save a significant amount of time and money in updating and maintaining voter lists, even though initial infrastructure expenditures are necessary.
Convenience for Citizens: o Concurrent elections allay citizens’ worries about names being left off of electoral rolls.
Consistent electoral rolls for every election simplify the procedure and give voters a more dependable and simple way to cast their ballots.
▪ Making the Most of Law Enforcement Resources: . During elections, a large-scale redeployment of police and paramilitary forces results in high expenses and takes important law enforcement officers away from vital duties.
.By limiting these deployments, simultaneous elections can maximise resources and improve the effectiveness of law enforcement.
Limiting Horse-Trading: o Elections with set intervals may make elected officials less likely to engage in horse-trading.
.By holding elections at certain times, current anti-defection regulations are strengthened by making it harder for MPs to join coalitions or change parties for their own benefit.
▪ Financial Stability for State Governments: . In an effort to attract voters, state governments frequently announce giveaways, which puts a pressure on their resources.
This problem may be lessened by holding simultaneous elections, which would also help to increase financial stability by lessening the financial strain on state governments.
What are the Challenges Associated with ONOE?
Constitutional Issues and Mid-Tenure Collapse: .The Constitution’s Article 83(2) and 172 provide that the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies have a five-year term, unless they are dissolved sooner.
o.The idea of ONOE begs the question of what would happen if the federal or state governments fell apart in the middle of their tenure.
- The constitutional structure is complicated by the conundrum of whether to have elections in every state or to impose President’s Rule.
Logistical Difficulties in Putting ONOE into Practice: .There are a number of logistical difficulties in putting ONOE into practice, such as the security and accessibility of staff, electronic voting equipment, and other resources.
.The EC could find it challenging to oversee such a large-scale election process, which would complicate the ONOE plan.
Issues with Federalism and the Law Commission’s Conclusions:
.ONOE is in opposition to the notion of India as a “Union of States” as stated in Article 1 and conflicts with the idea of federalism.
- State governments’ independence and autonomy are being attacked by simultaneous elections. ▪ The duration of state administrations differ, and certain states are granted special provisions under Article 371 of the Constitution. This might not only erode this federal framework but also heighten the conflict of interest between the federal government and the states.
.The Law Commission, led by Justice B. S. Chauhan, concluded that the current constitutional structure does not allow for simultaneous elections. - It would be necessary to amend the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act of 1951, and the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies’ Rules of Procedure.
Recurrence of Elections and Democratic Benefits: . It is believed that a democracy benefits from the existing system of recurrent elections as it gives voters more opportunities to voice their opinions.
.This arrangement ensures better accountability by preventing the mixing of subjects between national and state polls.
.The current structure preserves each state’s unique requirements and desires.
▪ Biassed Democratic Structure: According to a 2015 IDFC Institute analysis, there is a 77% possibility that the victorious political party or coalition would win both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections if they are conducted at the same time.
- However, just 61% of voters select the same party if the elections are spaced six months apart.
Cost Implications and Economic Considerations: o The EC and NITI Aayog’s estimates of the expenses related to simultaneous elections show disparate numbers. • Economic research indicates that election spending by parties and candidates ultimately benefits the economy and government tax revenues, despite potential short-term cost increases. Long-term cost savings from synchronisation may be offset by short-term costs associated with deploying more electronic voting machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs).
▪ Legal Concerns: The Supreme Court stressed the independent constitutional existence of States in the S.R. Bommai case, highlighting the possibility that the adoption of a uniform election procedure might violate the Constitution.
Language prejudice in Consultation Process: The High-Level Committee’s website makes clear that prejudice, exclusion, and inequality are issues with its consultation process.
The website, which is meant to serve as a forum for conversation and information sharing, is only accessible in Hindi and English, ignoring the variety of India’s 22 recognised languages.
▪ Election Commission Independence: Similar to demonetisation, when the Reserve Bank of India was kept in the dark, concerns are raised over the EC’s independence.
The Election Commission looks to be inactive in the High-Level Committee’s proceedings, endangering its independence in making election-related judgements.
What can be the Way Forward?
Creating Consensus:The viability of simultaneous elections depends on states and political parties reaching an agreement. To solve issues and win support, this calls for candid discussions, talks, and deliberations among many parties.
Constitutional Amendments: The Representation of the People Act of 1951, the Rules of Procedure of the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, and the Constitution must all be amended in order to allow for simultaneous elections.
The special needs of synchronised elections should be taken into account by this legislative framework.
Aligning Assembly Terms with Lok Sabha: Aligning assembly terms with Lok Sabha elections may be a constitutional reform. To streamline the electoral process, it is suggested that any assembly whose term expires six months before to or following Lok Sabha elections might have its elections at the same time.
▪ Infrastructure Investment: Significant investments in electoral technology and infrastructure are necessary for the successful execution of simultaneous elections. This involves making certain that there is a sufficient quantity of voting places, EVMs, VVPAT devices, and security guards with the necessary training.
▪ Legal Framework for Emergencies: Creating a legal framework is crucial for handling situations such as hung parliaments, no-confidence resolutions, and early assembly dissolution. The goal of this concept is to control unanticipated events that may occur during the concurrent election cycle.
▪ Voter education and awareness: It is essential to inform voters about the benefits and difficulties of holding ten elections at once. In order for individuals to exercise their right to vote without difficulty or confusion, voter education initiatives must guarantee that they comprehend the procedure.
Conclusion :-
The creation of the “High Level Committee” indicates that there will be much discussion over the timing of the Indian elections.
The absence of a clear deadline for the committee’s conclusions creates uncertainty despite worries about the possible influence on legal and constitutional norms. Legal issues pose a constitutional obstacle, especially the possible modification of State Legislature terms. The Indian Supreme Court’s constitutional role is brought to light by the impending question of whether One Nation, One Election can be blocked.
