What is One Nation One Election: Pros, Cons, & the Way Forward

One Nation One Election (ONOE) is a proposal to hold simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament) and all state assemblies in India. The proposal has been debated for many years, and there are both pros and cons to it. In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of ONOE, as well as the challenges that would need to be addressed in order to implement it. We will also explore the way forward on ONOE and the potential impact it could have on India’s democracy.

The post includes:

• What is One Nation One Election?
  • History of ONOE in India
  • Pros of One Nation One Election
  • Cons of One Nation One Election
• Challenges and Obstacles to ONOE
• Global Examples
  • Lessons learned from other countries
• Current status of ONOE in India
  • One Nation One Election Committee
• Frequently Asked Questions

What is One Nation One Election?

“One Nation One Election” (ONOE) is a proposed electoral reform in India that aims to synchronize the schedules of various elections held at different levels of government, including the Lok Sabha (national parliament), state legislative assemblies, and local bodies such as municipal corporations and panchayats (village councils). The primary objective of this reform is to have all these elections occur simultaneously in order to streamline the electoral process and reduce the frequency of elections. It intends to hold these elections either on a single day or within a specific time frame every five years.

The idea of ONOE has been around for many years, but it has gained renewed attention in recent years.

The government’s plan for simultaneous elections is still under development, but it is expected to include the following:

1. A constitutional amendment to provide for simultaneous elections.
2. A detailed plan for the logistics of holding simultaneous elections, including the number of polling stations, the number of security personnel needed, and the cost of the elections.
3. A strategy for building political consensus for simultaneous elections.
4. A plan for addressing the concerns of regional parties and other stakeholders.

History of One Nation One Election in India

The idea of holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies has been around for many years in India. It was first proposed by the Election Commission of India in its 1983 annual report. The Law Commission of India also endorsed the idea in its 1999 report.

In recent years, the idea of simultaneous elections has gained renewed attention. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been in power since 2014, has made it a key policy objective.

The debate over simultaneous elections is likely to continue for some time. The government will need to carefully consider the pros and cons of the proposal before making a final decision.

Here is a brief timeline of the history of One Nation One Election in India:

• 1951-1967: Simultaneous elections are held for the Lok Sabha and all state assemblies.
• 1968-1970: Simultaneous elections are discontinued due to the dissolution of some state assemblies.
• 1983: The Election Commission of India proposes simultaneous elections in its annual report.
• 1999: The Law Commission of India endorses the idea of simultaneous elections.
• 2014: BJP-led government comes to power and makes simultaneous elections a key policy objective.
• 2018: The Law Commission of India submits a draft report backing the idea of simultaneous polls.
• 2023: The government sets up a committee to explore the feasibility of holding simultaneous elections.

Pros of One Nation One Election

The pros of One Nation One Election (ONOE) include:

1. Reduces the cost of elections: The 2019 Lok Sabha elections in India were the world’s costliest, with an estimated expenditure of ₹55,000 crore (US$8 billion). This was a 40% increase from the 2014 elections. Holding elections simultaneously would save money on things like voter rolls, polling stations, and security.

2. Saves time and resources: It would also save time and resources by reducing the need for multiple election campaigns and government transitions. This could free up time and resources for other important tasks, such as economic development and social welfare.

3. Ensures that the government is more accountable to the people: By holding elections more frequently, the government would be more accountable to the people and less likely to take them for granted. This is because the people would have the opportunity to vote the government out of office more often if they are not satisfied with its performance.

4. Reduces the disruption caused by frequent elections: Holding elections simultaneously would reduce the disruption caused by frequent elections, such as the need for security forces to be deployed and businesses to close. This would be especially beneficial for businesses and individuals who are affected by election-related disruptions.

5. Improves voter turnout: Some people believe that simultaneous elections would improve voter turnout. This is because people would be more likely to vote if they only had to do it once every five years.

Cons of One Nation One Election

The cons of One Nation One Election (ONOE) include:

1. Undermines federalism: Some people argue that ONOE would undermine federalism by giving the central government too much power over the states. This is because the central government would be able to control the timing of elections, which could give it an advantage over the states.

2. Gives an unfair advantage to the ruling party: The ruling party could potentially use its incumbency advantage to win more seats in the simultaneous elections. This is because the ruling party would have more resources and name recognition than the opposition parties.

3. Disrupts the functioning of state governments: Holding simultaneous elections could disrupt the functioning of state governments, as they would need to focus on campaigning and elections instead of governing. This could lead to delays in important decisions and services.

4. Difficult to implement: Simultaneous elections would be a major logistical challenge to implement. The Election Commission of India would need to coordinate the election process across the entire country, which could be difficult and time-consuming.

5. Incentivizes short-termism: If elections are held every five years, politicians may be more likely to focus on short-term goals, such as winning the next election, rather than long-term goals, such as economic development and social welfare.

6. Elevates national issues over regional issues: If elections are held simultaneously for the Lok Sabha and all state assemblies, national issues may overshadow regional issues. This could make it difficult for regional parties to win elections and could lead to a decline in regional representation.

7. Disadvantages of smaller parties: Smaller parties may be disadvantaged in simultaneous elections, as they may not have the resources to campaign effectively in all parts of the country. This could lead to a decline in the diversity of the political landscape.

Challenges and Obstacles to ONOE

The challenges and obstacles to One Nation One Election (ONOE) in India are numerous and complex. Here are some of the key challenges:

1. Constitutional hurdles: The Constitution of India does not explicitly provide for simultaneous elections. This means that any attempt to implement ONOE would require a constitutional amendment, which is a difficult and time-consuming process.

2. Logistical challenges: Simultaneous elections would be a major logistical challenge to implement. The Election Commission of India would need to coordinate the election process across the entire country, which could be difficult and time-consuming. This would require a huge amount of manpower, resources, and infrastructure.

3. Political challenges: There is no consensus on whether ONOE is a good idea. Some political parties support the idea, while others oppose it. The government will need to build political consensus before implementing ONOE.

4. Opposition from regional parties: Regional parties are likely to oppose ONOE, as they fear that they will be disadvantaged in simultaneous elections. This is because regional parties may not have the resources to campaign effectively in all parts of the country.

5. Disruption to governance: Simultaneous elections could disrupt the functioning of state governments, as they would need to focus on campaigning and elections instead of governing. This could lead to delays in important decisions and services.

6. Incentivizes short-termism: If elections are held every five years, politicians may be more likely to focus on short-term goals, such as winning the next election, rather than long-term goals, such as economic development and social welfare.

Global Examples of One Nation One Election

There are a few countries in the world that hold simultaneous elections. These include:

1. Belgium: Belgium holds simultaneous elections for the federal parliament, regional parliaments, and local councils every five years.

2. Sweden: Sweden holds simultaneous elections for the Riksdag (parliament), county councils, and municipal councils every four years.

3. South Africa: South Africa holds simultaneous elections for the national parliament, provincial legislatures, and local government councils every five years.

Lessons learned from other countries

Here are some of the lessons learned from other countries that have held simultaneous elections:

• It can reduce the cost of elections.
• It can save time and resources.
• It can ensure that the government is more accountable to the people.
• It can reduce the disruption caused by frequent elections.
• It can be difficult to implement.
• It can give an unfair advantage to the ruling party.
• It can disrupt the functioning of state governments.
• It can be difficult to get political consensus.

Current status of One Nation One Election in India

The current status of the One Nation One Election in India is that it is still under consideration. The government will need to carefully consider all of the factors before making a decision on whether to implement ONOE.

In the meantime, the Election Commission of India has been conducting a series of studies and consultations on the feasibility of ONOE. The Commission has also been developing a plan for how ONOE could be implemented, if it is decided to go ahead with it.

The government has said that it is committed to exploring the feasibility of ONOE, but it has not yet made a final decision on whether to implement it. The debate over the proposal is likely to continue for some time.

The government has set up a committee to explore the feasibility of holding simultaneous elections, but there is no clear timeline for when a decision will be made.

One Nation One Election Committee

The One Nation One Election (ONOE) committee is a high-level committee set up by the Government of India to examine the feasibility of holding simultaneous elections. The committee is headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind and has seven other members including:

1. Amit Shah, Union Home Minister
2. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Congress leader
3. Ghulam Nabi Azad, Former Leader of the Opposition
4. NK Singh, Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission
5. Dr Subhash C Kashyap, Lok Sabha’s Former Secretary General
6. Harish Salve, Senior Advocate
7. Sanjay Kothari, Former Chief Vigilance Commissioner

The committee was set up in September 2023 and is expected to submit its report within six months. The committee will examine the constitutional, legal, financial, logistical, and political aspects of holding simultaneous elections. It will also consult with stakeholders, including political parties, election officials, and experts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to “One Nation One Election” (ONOE) that can help you to solve quick doubts and queries:

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