One Nation One Election

• The concept of simultaneous elections is rooted in the colonial electoral system under the Government of India Act, 1935.
• Provincial elections were held in eleven provinces in British India in the winter of 1936–37 as mandated by the Government of India Act 1935.

• The first general elections post-independence were held simultaneously, with the state legislative assembly elections in 1951-52.
• One Nation One Election continued in three subsequent elections held in 1957, 1962, and 1967.

• Following the adoption of the Constitution, elections to the Lok Sabha and all state assemblies were conducted simultaneously from 1951 to 1967.
• However, this cycle of synchronised elections was disrupted in 1968 and 1969 due to the premature dissolution of some State Legislative Assemblies.

• The Fourth Lok Sabha was also dissolved prematurely in 1970, with fresh elections held in 1971.
• Unlike the first, second, and third Lok Sabha, which completed their full five-year terms, the fifth Lok Sabha's term was extended until 1977 under Article 352 because of the declaration of Emergency.
• Since then, only a few Lok Sabha terms have lasted the full five years, such as the eighth, 10th, 14th and 15th.
• Others, including the 6th,7th,9th, 11th, 12th and 13th, were dissolved early.

• As happened in 2024, the Lok Sabha elections coincide with just four state assembly elections - Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim.

• The government must develop a legally-tenable mechanism in order to restore the cycle of simultaneous elections.

• In the first stage, elections for the Lok Sabha and all state legislative assemblies can be held together.

• In the second step, the elections to municipalities and panchayats will be synchronised with the Lok Sabha and state assemblies in such a way that the polls to municipalities and panchayats are held within 100 days of the holding of the parliamentary and Assembly elections.

• For the purpose of synchronising the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, the president shall notify the date of the first sitting of the Lok Sabha after a general election as the "appointed date"

• The tenure of all state assemblies formed via polls after the "appointed date" and before the expiry of the full term of the Lok Sabha will only be for the period ending up to the subsequent parliamentary polls.
• After this one-time transitory measure, all Lok Sabha and Assembly polls will be held simultaneously.

• Fresh elections could be held to constitute a new Lok Sabha in the event of a hung House or a no-confidence motion or any such event.

• Where fresh elections are held for the House of the People (Lok Sabha), the tenure of the House will be "only for the unexpired (remaining) term of the immediately preceding full term of the House".

• When fresh elections are held for state legislative assemblies, then such new assemblies unless sooner dissolved shall continue up to the end of the full term of the Lok Sabha.

• A single electoral roll and elector's photo identity card (EPIC) shall be prepared by the Election Commission (EC) in consultation with the state election commissions and the same will substitute any other electoral roll prepared by the EC.

• For making logistical arrangements for the conduct of simultaneous elections, the EC may draw up a plan and estimate in advance for the procurement of equipment, such as EVMs and VVPATs, deployment of polling personnel and security forces and make other necessary arrangements.

The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024

• The first bill introduces Article 82A to synchronize Lok Sabha and state assembly elections and amends Articles 83, 172, and 327.
• It allows the Election Commission to recommend delayed assembly polls if simultaneous elections are unfeasible.

The Union Territories Law (Amendment) Bill, 2024

• The second bill introduces Article 324A, empowering the central government to align municipal and panchayat elections with Lok Sabha and assembly polls.
• As local body elections fall under the State List, this bill requires ratification by at least half the states under Article 368.

• Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
• National People's Party (NPP)
• All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)
• Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)
• Apna Dal Soneylal (ADS)
• Asom Gana Parishad (AGP)
• Biju Janata Dal (BJD)
• Janata Dal United (JDU)
• Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (LJP-RV)
• Mizo National Front (MNF)
• Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)
• Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)
• Telugu Desam Party (TDP)
• Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK)
• Republican Party of IndiaAthawale (RPI-A)
• Tamil Maanila CongressMoopanar (TMC-M)
• Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM)
• Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP)
• Gorkha National Liberal Front (GNLF)
• Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM)
• Indian Makkal Kalvi Munnetra Kazhagam (IMKMK)
• Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP)
• Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT)
• Jan Surajya Shakti (JSS)
• Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP)
• Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP)
• Nishad Party
• Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)
• Shiv Sena (SHS)
• Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM)

• Indian National Congress (INC)
• Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
• Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)
• Samajwadi Party (SP)
• All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF)
• Trinamool Congress (TMC)
• All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM)
• Communist Party of India (CPI)
• Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)
• Naga People's Front (NPF)
• Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK)
• Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK)
• Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation (CPI-ML)
• Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)
• Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI)
• Nationalist Congress PartySharadchandra Pawar: (NCP-SP)
• Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)
• Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP)

• The NDA has 293 seats in the Lok Sabha, 68 short of the 361 needed.
• Even with 16 votes from smaller non-aligned parties, the NDA still needs the Opposition's support.
• With 237 seats held by the INDIA bloc, the Centre faces an uphill battle.
• At present, two seats, Nanded and Wayanad, are vacant in Parliament.

• In the Rajya Sabha, the NDA holds 121 seats, far below the 156 required for a majority.
• The INDIA bloc controls 87 seats, further complicating the NDA's path.

• At the state level, the NDA controls 19 of 28 Vidhan Sabhas (state legislative Assemblies).
• This gives the government a majority to ratify constitutional amendments at the state level, though resistance from Opposition-ruled states is likely.

• Of the 15 parties opposing the proposal, the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Trinamool Congress, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) are in power in various states.
• Additionally, all 10 parties in the INDIA bloc strongly reject the idea.

• Under the Representation of the People Act 1951, elections to a House can be held anytime within six months preceding the date of the scheduled dissolution on completion of the five-year term.
• Amendments in this Act are required to alter the fixed term of assemblies and align election schedules.
• For example, if simultaneous polls were held in 2019, over 15 state assemblies would need to be dissolved before completing their 5-year term to align with the Lok Sabha elections.
• Those opposing One Nation One Election ideas contended that altering these terms would violate the Constitution’s basic structure.

• Article 82A will establish the process by which the country will move to a system of simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.
• The President will issue a notification bringing Article 82A into effect, on the date of the first sitting of the House of the People after a general election.
• All the Legislative Assemblies constituted in any general election held after the appointed date shall come to an end on the expiry of the full term of the House of the People.

• Articles 83 (2) and 172 (1) set the maximum duration of the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, respectively.
• The amendment may be required to be brought in to ensure that the term of the reconstituted assembly (after the dissolution) is less than five years to compensate for the time in the run-up to the next simultaneous polls.
• This may help synchronise elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies within a few years
• The panel's report noted that a Constitution Amendment Bill must be introduced in Parliament, amending Article 83 (Duration of Houses of Parliament) and Article 172 (Duration of State Legislatures) ,which will not not require ratification by the States.

• The One National One Election panel report stated that amendments would be required in:
• Section 5 (Duration of Legislative Assembly) of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 for the Legislative Assembly of Delhi.
• Section 5 (Duration of Legislative Assembly) of the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 for the Legislative Assembly of Puducherry.

• Article 356 allows the Centre to dismiss an elected state government and impose the President's Rule.
• An amendment to this Article may pave the way to prevent the premature dissolution of the Houses and Assemblies.
• In a report on the One Nation One Election released in March this year, Justice Pradeep Nandrajog, Former Chief Justice of Bombay High Court, suggested amendments to Articles 85(1), 174(2), and 83(2) to facilitate implementation of ONOE.

• Addition of Article 325(2) to create a Single Electoral Roll for every territorial constituency for election to the House of the People, Legislature of a State or to a Municipality or a Panchayat.
• Addition of Article 325(3) which shall substitute any electoral roll prepared earlier by either the Election Commission under Art 325 or the State Election Commissions under Article 243K and Article. 243ZA.

• The Ramnath Kovind panel report had suggested a Constitution Amendment Bill (different from that amending Article 83 and Article 172) would be introduced to insert Article 324A for elections to Municipalities and Panchayats.
• A new Article 324A would facilitate the simultaneous elections for Panchayats and Municipalities with the General Elections for the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.

• In the event of a hung House, no-confidence motion, or any such event, fresh elections should be held to constitute the new Lok Sabha or Assembly.

• One of the primary arguments in favor of ONOE is the potential for significant cost savings.
• The cost of conducting the 2009 Lok Sabha elections was about Rs 1,115 crore.
• while for 2014, this cost more than tripled to about Rs 3,870 crore.
• The cost of 2019 elections skyrocketed to a staggering Rs 50,000 crore ($7 billion), according to a report by the Centre for Media Studies.
• Based on previous years' trends, the 2024 election is expected to cost approximately double the amount of the last election, amounting to a staggering Rs 1,00,000 crore.

• The regular occurrence of elections across different states requires large-scale deployment of security personnel and election officials, often diverting these resources from their regular duties.
• The One Nation One Election synchronises electoral calendars, which would ensure the availability of more time for governance and unhindered public service delivery to citizens.
• A synchronized election would streamline the process, ensuring that security and administrative resources are concentrated in one election cycle every five years, rather than being spread out.
• ONOE will help in refocusing efforts on developmental activities and the implementation of policies that are welfareoriented. It will allow uninterrupted governance for both the Centre and the states.

• According to data from the Election Commission of India, MCC enforcement during elections causes months of policy paralysis.
• ONOE will reduce repeated and prolonged enforcement of MCC, which will ensure that there is continuity in governance and developmental activities.
• In 2017, NITI Aayog published a report that noted that elections at various levels result in the loss of 3-4 months of effective governance every year. With the help of ONOE, such downtime can be eliminated in the future, which will ensure that governments focus consistently on governance and not on planning for the next elections.

• The First General Elections to the House of People (Lok Sabha) and all State Legislative Assemblies were held simultaneously in 1951-52.
• This practice was continued in three subsequent General Elections held in the years 1957, 1962 and 1967.
• Simultaneous elections were successfully held from 1951 to 1967 without undermining federal features, demonstrating feasibility and governance stability.

• According to the Law Commission, ONOE raises voter participation.
• ONOE Ensures voters are not subjected to multiple rounds of voting, leading to better turnout due to voter convenience.

• Frequent imposition of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during polls stalls all development work for months at a time.
• It will reduce ‘policy paralysis’ that results from the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct during election time.

• At the time of elections, significant human and financial resources are deployed, which include polling officials, security personnel, and administrative staff.
• According to the High-Level Committee’s report, ONOE would reduce the frequency of such diversions, which will enable public institutions to focus on their core responsibilities.

• One Nation One Election would reduce election-related disputes and offences, thus reducing the burden on courts.

• The ministry assured that simultaneous elections would not undermine regional parties.
• Instead, it argued that the system would encourage greater focus on localised issues and allow diverse leadership to emerge.
• When state and national elections take place simultaneously, regional parties will get a broader platform to raise local concerns without getting overshadowed by national campaigns.

• The ONOE model will provide better representation to regional and new players in the political landscape as it will reduce the dominance of a few leaders within political parties.
• When elections happen during different times at national and state levels, it allows only a limited number of individuals to contest multiple elections. It monopolises leadership roles.
• Take the example of Akhilesh Yadav. He has contested both state and national elections.
• Currently, he is a Member of Parliament from UP, but there is no guarantee that he will not contest the state elections scheduled for 2027.
• Simultaneous elections will help in diversifying political opportunities and encouraging new leaders to emerge.
• It will help in enhancing democratic inclusiveness, which is essential for sustaining a democracy like India.

• One nation one election will ensure continuity of policies and programmes of the central and state governments.
• It will reduce disruption of normal public life, as political rallies will be kept to a minimum.

• The phenomenon of 'voter fatigue,' characterized by apathy and disinterest among voters due to the recurrence of elections, presents a significant challenge in ensuring their participation.

• Conducting simultaneous elections could streamline voter registration, reducing issues such as missing names from electoral rolls.

• Elections involve considerable expenditure by prospective candidates, most of which is black money.
• ‘One nation one election’ will reduce the circulation of black money in the economy.

• In his remarks, former President Kovind said that implementing One Nation One Election could directly contribute to the economic growth of the country.
• It will minimise governance disruptions and financial wastage.
• It will help in creating a conducive environment for growth and development.
• He noted that such a system will help in increasing India’s GDP, which will enable India to compete with the largest economies of the world.

• The Ministry of Law and Justice described the initiative as a ‘transformative shift’ in India’s electoral process, addressing longstanding challenges of governance paralysis, economic disruptions, and resource inefficiencies.

• Free and fair elections are considered part of this basic structure.
• Simultaneous elections might be seen as altering this fundamental aspect of Indian Parliamentary democracy.
• If a legislative assembly is dissolved and midterm elections are conducted, the tenure of that assembly will not be for five years.
• This itself is a violation of parliamentary democracy.
• The Constitution makes it clear that once elected, the House should have the right to function for five years.

• In situations like midterm polls or the President’s rule, if a party fails to get a majority, there is no clarity on how to deal with it when the One Nation One Election concept is implemented.

• It undermines the fundamental principle of federalism, which constitutes a basic component of our Constitutional structure.
• Critics could also argue that amending the Constitution for holding simultaneous elections would fundamentally alter its democratic and federal character.
• India is a 'Union of States', which has its own directly elected governments.
• By fixing a term, it is argued that it would adversely affect their rights.

• Conducting Simultaneous Elections may hamper the prospects of regional political parties since they may not be able to highlight local issues prominently.
• They may not be able to compete with national parties in terms of money and election strategies.
• Regional political parties have limited resources, which means they may not be able to highlight local issues to voters in the face of better-funded parties campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections.

• The One Nation One Election can only be implemented after making changes in the Constitution and following other legal frameworks.
• To implement One Nation One Election a constitutional amendment is needed and it must be ratified by the state assemblies.

• In the One Nation One Election, regional issues may be overshadowed by national issues, affecting the state-level electoral outcome.

• The High Level Committee (HLC) constituted by the Government of India to provide a road map for implementation of simultaneous elections, deliberated on local body elections and recommended synchronising them within 100 days of simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
• This could be seen as centralizing power, contrary to the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments which empower local selfgovernance.

• ASSOCHAM president Ajay Singh said legal challenges in the way of the implementation of 'One Nation One Election' include the need to amend the Constitution and Representation of the People Act, 1951.
• It also noted that a Constitution Amendment Bill will have to be introduced in Parliament amending Article 83 (Duration of Houses of Parliament) and Article 172 (Duration of State Legislatures).

• The Indian Constitution currently mandates that both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies must serve five-year terms, unless dissolved earlier.
• If a government collapses mid-term, this could disrupt the synchronized election cycle and create logistical challenges.
• Our Constitution envisages separate and independent electoral cycles for the Union and States, respecting their autonomy within the federal framework.
• Thus Simultaneous elections in form of One Nation One Election, may violate the basic federal structure of the Indian Constitution.

• One Nation One Election might conflict with the federal nature of India’s political system, reducing the autonomy of state governments.
• Additionally, the Law Commission has expressed doubts about the feasibility of simultaneous elections under the current constitutional framework.

• For simultaneous elections in 2029, the ECI has estimated a requirement of 53.76 lakh ballot units, 38.67 lakh control units, and 41.65 lakh VVPATs.
• This would necessitate adding 26.55 lakh ballot units, 17.78 lakh control units, and 17.79 lakh VVPATs to the current inventory.

• The ECI has estimated the manufacturing of these additional units to be Rs. 7,951.37 crore, excluding transportation and warehousing costs.
• It would cost a huge sum to the public exchequer.

• The smooth conduct of One Nation One Election, will increase the requirement of the number of security personnel.
• The ECI had estimated a need for 4,719 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in the 2024 general elections, which was a 50% increase from the 2019 requirement.

• One Nation One Election might conflict with the federal nature of India’s political system, reducing the autonomy of state governments.
• Additionally, the Law Commission has expressed doubts about the feasibility of simultaneous elections under the current constitutional framework

• Opposition parties are of the opinion that simultaneous elections are an assault on the basic structure of the Constitution.

• Indian National Congress is of the opinion that there is no place for the concept of simultaneous elections in a country that has adopted a parliamentary system of government

• Congress dismissed the argument regarding expenses saved on the cost of conducting repeated elections as “baseless”, saying that “people will be willing to consider this small amount as the cost of free and fair elections.

• Aam Aadmi Party have argued that simultaneous elections would “institutionalize a Presidential form of government which cannot be dislodged by a vote of no-confidence.

• Frequent elections allow voters to voice their opinions regularly, holding governments accountable for their actions.
• One Nation One Election might dilute this ability, reducing the regular feedback that elections provide.

• Studies suggest that when elections are held simultaneously, there is a higher likelihood of the same party winning both the national and state elections, potentially undermining the distinction between local and national issues.

• In South Africa, voters cast their ballots for both the National Assembly and Provincial Legislatures simultaneously.
• The House of Assembly or the Lower House and Provincial Councils are elected by firstpast-the-post voting in single-member electoral divisions.
• However, municipal elections are held separately from provincial ones in a five-year cycle.

• Sweden follows the proportional electoral system, which means that political parties are assigned a number of seats in the elected assembly based on their share of votes.
• They have a system where elections for the Parliament (Riksdag), County Councils and Municipal Councils all take place at the same time.
• These elections occur every four years on the second Sunday of September whereas elections to the municipal assemblies occur on the second Sunday of September, once every five years.

• Since 2019 Indonesia has been conducting simultaneous elections, a system where the President, Vice President, and members of both national and regional legislative bodies are elected on the same day.
• Voters cast a secret ballot and dip their fingers in indelible ink to prevent duplicate voting.
• Political parties need 4 pc of votes to qualify for the National Parliament.
• A presidential candidate needs more than 50 pc of votes cast overall and at least 20 pc of votes in more than half the country's provinces to win.
• On February 14, 2024, Indonesia successfully conducted simultaneous elections.
• It is being termed as the world's largest single day elections since nearly 200 million people voted across all five levels -- President, Vice President, Members of Parliament, Members of Regional Assemblies and Municipal elections

• On August 21, 2017, the Nepal government ordered the holding of national and state elections across the country simultaneously.
• But the Election Commission of Nepal raised concerns about the difficulty of organizing such concurrent elections across the country.
• The government then went for a two-phase election with a gap period.

• The ONOE represents a bold and transformative reform in the democratic framework of India.
• Its implementation will require constitutional amendments, political consensus, and significant investment in electoral infrastructure.
• However, the cost of implementing this system will be recovered over the years as repeated elections will no longer occur.

• As affirmed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, ONOE will not only drive all-round progress but will also enhance the economic trajectory of the country.
• Careful planning, broad-based consensus, and a commitment to democratic principles will reshape the electoral process of the country, ensuring stability, efficiency, and development.

• The transition to a system of simultaneous elections will require comprehensive reforms and a consensus among political stakeholders.
• This may involve constitutional amendments, alterations to the current electoral schedule, and a re-evaluation of party strategies.
• While these changes may be met with resistance, the potential advantages of a more streamlined electoral process warrant serious consideration.

• Political parties can still focus on local issues while participating in a broader national conversation, thereby ensuring that state-specific concerns do not get overshadowed.
• Additionally, the staggered scheduling of elections could be reimagined to allow for periodic elections in such a way that the local electorate remains engaged without causing continuous electoral fatigue.