Mains Practice Questions

Introduction

The "One Nation, One Election" proposal seeks to synchronize elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, aiming to reduce costs, minimize disruptions, and streamline governance.

• Historically, simultaneous elections were the norm until 1967, but the cycle was disrupted, leading to frequent elections.
• The Law Commission's 170^th Report supports returning to this system, highlighting the benefits of unified electoral timelines.

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Advantages of One Nation One Election:

• Cost Reduction: Simultaneous elections could significantly reduce the expenditure on conducting separate polls for state and national levels.
  • For instance, the 2019 Lok Sabha elections cost approximately ₹60,000 crore, combining this with state elections could potentially halve the overall expense.
• Governance Continuity: It may allow governments to focus on long-term policies without frequent disruptions due to model code of conduct implementations.
• Reduced Burden on Security Forces: Conducting elections once would ease the pressure on security personnel who are often deployed for extended periods during multiple elections.
  • This could be particularly beneficial in regions facing security challenges, such as Jammu and Kashmir or Naxal-affected areas.
• Increased Voter Turnout: A single election event might encourage higher voter participation as citizens would need to vote only once for both state and national representatives.
  • For instance, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the turnout was 65.79%, a significant drop from the 2019 elections.
• Reduced Political Polarization: Less frequent elections could potentially decrease the constant state of political campaigning
  • It may allow for more focused governance periods, potentially reducing societal divisions caused by continuous political rhetoric.

Challenges Related to One Nation One Election:

• Reduced Democratic Accountability: The proposal may undermine the federal nature of the polity by reducing state autonomy in deciding electoral timing.
  • Also, national issues might overshadow state-specific concerns.
  • This concern echoes the principles laid down in S.R. Bommai vs Union of India (1994), which emphasized the importance of federalism as a basic feature of the Constitution.Reduced Democratic Accountability
• Constitutional Amendments: Requires significant amendments, particularly to Articles 83, 172, 85, and 174.
  • Any such amendments would need to pass the "basic structure" test laid down in Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala (1973).
• Logistical Complexity: Organizing simultaneous elections across India would pose immense challenges.
  • For instance, the 2024 general elections required 1.048 million polling booths and 5.5 million electronic voting machines (EVMs).
  • Combining this with state elections would significantly increase these numbers, straining resources and requiring extensive planning and coordination.
• Uncertainty in case of government collapse: There Is no clear mechanism to handle situations where a state government falls mid-term.
  • For instance, if a state government like the one in Maharashtra in 2019 collapses, it is unclear how the synchronization would be maintained without undermining democratic principles.
• Diminished Role of Opposition: Regular state assembly elections, held at different times from Lok Sabha polls, give opposition parties frequent chances to highlight government policy failures.
  • Extended five-year terms without regular accountability pressures can reduce governments' motivation to reform and adapt.

Way Forward:

• Phased implementation: Gradually synchronising elections over multiple election cycles would allow for smoother transitions. This could involve:
  • Starting with a few states whose terms are ending close to the Lok Sabha elections
  • Create 2-3 election "clusters" spread over a 5-year period
  • Progressively aligning more states over 2-3 election cycles
  • Adjusting term lengths slightly (e.g. extending or reducing by a few months) to achieve alignment
• Strengthen Regional Representation: Implementing measures to ensure state-specific issues receive adequate attention:
  • Mandate separate state and national manifestos from parties
  • Allocate specific campaign time and media coverage for state-level issues
  • Strengthen the role of state election commissions
• Constitutional Safeguards: Develop robust constitutional mechanisms for various scenarios:
  • Clear provisions for government formation if one level (state or center) loses majority
  • Establish rules for caretaker governments and their powers
  • Define conditions and processes for midterm elections
  • Ensure mechanisms to maintain the autonomy of state legislatures
• Electoral Reforms: Introduce broader reforms to address various issues:
  • Implement stricter campaign finance regulations and transparency measures
  • Reform the model code of conduct to suit simultaneous elections

Conclusion

While the idea of "One Nation, One Election" has merit, its implementation requires thorough planning, broad consensus, and careful consideration of long-term effects on India's democracy. As discussions continue, a balanced approach, possibly phased, will be crucial for its success.