One Nation-One Election

1. Introduction
• The idea, also known as simultaneous elections, proposes aligning the election cycles of the
Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. This would allow voters to cast their ballots for both tiers
of government on the same day in their constituencies, though voting could still occur in
phases across the country.
2. Evolution
• 1983: Election Commission first mooted it
• 2014: BJP Election manifesto
• 2016: push for “One nation, one election” came from Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• 2017: Niti Aayog prepared a working paper on the subject
• 2018: Law Commission submitted a draft report to government, endorsing proposal.
• 2024: The High-Level Committee Report on Simultaneous Elections in India
• 2024: Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill
3. Is the idea new?
• Following the adoption of the Constitution, elections to the Lok Sabha and all State
Legislative Assemblies were conducted simultaneously from 1951 to 1967. The first general
elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies were held together in 1951-52, a practice
that continued for three subsequent general elections in 1957, 1962, and 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.
One Nation-One Election Bill
1. Introduction
• The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the Union Territories Amendment Bill were
passed through a division of votes. The two bills aimed at establishing the mechanism for
holding simultaneous elections
• The minister requested Speaker Om Birla to refer the Bill to a JPC
2. What it amends?
• It amends Article 82, 83, 172 and 327
3. What are the Provisions?
• To bring the provisions of the Bill into force, the President may issue a notification on the
date of the first sitting of Lok Sabha after a general election. The terms of all State
Assemblies constituted after the date of the notification will expire with the expiry of the
 full term of Lok Sabha. Hence, elections to Lok Sabha and all State Assemblies thereafter
will be conducted together (ONOE cannot be implemented before 2034)
• If Lok Sabha or a State Assembly is dissolved sooner than its full term of five years, fresh
election will be held for a term equal to the remainder of the five-year term. This will
synchronise elections for Lok Sabha and all Assemblies every five years.
4. What about the “second bill”?
• The second Bill, The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, has proposed
amendments to the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the Government of the
National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation
Act, 2019.
5. How will it be amended?
• Parliament will follow the amendment procedures under Article 368. Since only Parliament
is empowered to legislate the election laws regarding Lok Sabha and assembly (Article 327),
the first amendment bill will not need ratification from the states.
• But matters related to polling in local bodies are under the state subject and will require
the second amendment Bill to be ratified by at least half the states.
What are the Benefits?
1. Expenditure
• Curbing huge expenditure
• 2024: 1 Lakh crore (centre for media studies)
2. Effective utilisation of govt. resources
• Each election means teachers missing from schools and colleges
• delayed public works, badly delivered or undelivered welfare schemes to the poor
3. Good Governance
• Elections (MCC): Policy Paralysis; No new schemes, no tender awarded, no work awarded
• Ministers are politicians, and politicians need to campaign: missing leadership
• Entire manpower involved in conducting elections
4. Boost voter turnout (Law Commission)
• too many elections create a sense of fatigue among electorates
• Voter turnout at the national level has stagnated in recent elections.
5. Social Capital
• communalism, casteism and corruption
What are the Challenges?
1. Difficult to implement
• Curtailment or Extension of tenure of State Legislature as per Lok Sabha polls
• Amendment requires ratification by 50% of the states (local bodies)
2. Undermine “Parliamentary Democracy”
• Parliamentary Democracy: Executive responsible to legislature; would undermine
legislative's power to bring down a regime just to have simultaneous elections
• Frequent elections ensure more accountability
3. Threat to Federalism and especially “Electoral Federalism”
• A fixed tenure of the Assemblies independent of the tenure of the Lok Sabha is a key aspect
of the federal setup. Under the Kesavananda Bharati decision, Parliament does not have
the power to alter the basic structure. Federalism is a part of the basic structure
• A study conducted by IDFC Institute in 2015 found that there is a 77% chance that voters
will choose the same winning political party in the state assembly and the Lok Sabha if
elections are held simultaneously
o Regional Issues may be subsumed by national themes in common elections
o Question of regional/smaller parties having a level playing field
4. Value of the VOTE and the GOVERNMENT
• This cuts down the tenure of a government, making the mandate of the voter of little value;
a new government would not complete its full term, reducing the democratic principle of
complete representation. Doesn’t this dilute the mandate of the new government which
will only have a two-year term? Why would the voters take such a government seriously?”
5. Cost of EVMs
• Cost of EVMs would have been Rs 4500 crore if simultaneous polls were held in 2019,
according to the Law Commission.
Conclusion
• Evidently, “one nation, one election” is not a necessary condition to be a successful
democracy. America’s economic success is often attributed to many of its virtues such as
democracy, institutions, strong leaders, free society, etc.