Knowledge nugget of the day: ‘One Nation, One Election’

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Knowledge Nugget: ‘One Nation, One Election’

Subject: Polity

Here’s why we are talking about it…

— Despite the BJP being in a minority, the NDA government will implement “one nation, one election,” in its current tenure, a top government functionary said Sunday. This, even as he insisted that “there should be no confusion about the sthayi niti (policy stability) under a government elected for a third successive term after 60 years.”

— Since he brought in the BJP to power with a majority in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been advocating for “One Nation, One Election” — holding elections to Lok Sabha, all state Legislative Assemblies, and urban and rural local bodies (municipalities and panchayats) at the same time. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. The High-level Committee (HLC) on One Nation, One Election had  submitted its report to President Droupadi Murmu on March 14 morning.

2. Former President Ram Nath Kovind was the Chairman of the High-Level Committee (HLC) on ‘One Nation, One Election’.

3. Simultaneous elections, popularly referred to as “One Nation, One Election”, means holding elections to Lok Sabha, all state Legislative Assemblies, and urban and rural local bodies (municipalities and panchayats) at the same time.

4. Currently, all these elections are held independently of one another, following timelines dictated by the terms of every individual elected body.

5. The High-level Committee (HLC) on One Nation, One Election had  submitted its report to President Droupadi Murmu on March 14 morning.

6. According to the HLC report, the country now sees five to six elections in a year — if municipalities and panchayat elections are also included, the number of elections will increase manifold.

7. Reasons in favour: The government’s FAQs list the following reasons in favour of holding simultaneous elections:

(i) Frequent elections burden the government exchequer with additional expenditure. If the expenditure incurred by political parties is also added, these figures will be even higher.

(ii) Asynchronous elections cause uncertainty and instability, thwarting supply chains, business investments and economic growth.

(iii) Disruption of government machinery due to asynchronous elections causes hardship to citizens.

(iv) Frequent use of government officials and security forces adversely affect discharge of their duties.

(v) Frequent imposition of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) causes policy paralysis and slows down the pace of the developmental programmes.

(vi) Staggered elections induce ‘voters’ fatigue’ and present a significant challenge in ensuring their participation.

8. Recommendations – According to the FAQs, the committee has made the following recommendations:

(i) Amending the Constitution: The Constitution should be amended to enable simultaneous elections in two steps.

STEP 1: Simultaneous elections will be held to Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. For this, no ratification by the states will be required for the constitutional amendment.

STEP 2: Elections to municipalities and the panchayats will be synchronised with elections to Lok Sabha and state Assemblies in such a way that local body elections are held within 100 days of the elections to Lok Sabha and state Assemblies. This will require ratification by not less than one-half of the states.

(ii) Single Electoral Role and Election ID: For the purpose of preparation of single electoral roll and electoral photo identity cards for use in elections to all the three tiers of government, the Constitution should be amended, so that the Election Commission of India can prepare a single electoral roll and election ID in consultation with the State Election Commissions. These amendments will require ratification by not less than one-half of the states.

(iii) In case of Hung house, etc.: In the event of a hung House, a no-confidence motion, or any such event, fresh elections should be held to constitute the new Lok Sabha or state Assembly for the unexpired term of the House.

(iv) Meeting logistics requirements: The committee has recommended that for meeting logistical requirements, the Election Commission of India will plan and estimate in advance, in consultation with the State Election Commissions, and take steps for the deployment of manpower, polling personnel, security forces, EVMs/VVPATs, etc., so that free and fair simultaneous elections are held in all the three tiers of the government.

BEYOND THE NUGGET: Is this the first time that simultaneous elections are proposed to be held in India?

No. Following efforts made by the central government, state governments, and political parties along with the Election Commission of India, simultaneous elections were held in the seven states of Bihar, Bombay, Madras, Mysore, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal in 1957.

Simultaneous elections were by and large in vogue until the fourth general elections of 1967. However, as successive central governments used constitutional provisions to dismiss state governments before the end of their term, and as coalition governments in the states and the Centre kept collapsing, a country came to see elections at different times through the year.

Point to ponder:

‘Recurring election cycles cost money, slow down governance and development. Simultaneous elections and a single voter list offer a way out.’ Do you agree?

(Refer: The case for one nation, one election ; One Nation, One Election: A blow to federalism, a challenge to implement)

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