The Central Government laid out bills related to the ‘One Nation One Election’ strategy in both houses of Parliament on Tuesday. The Cabinet cleared the proposal last week, and Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal brought the much-awaited draft to the Lok Sabha. The government is reportedly interested in conducting recommendations on bills likely to be presented to a parliamentary committee.
Sources stated that the government is eager to recommend the Speakers of various state legislative assemblies through the committee.
What Is One Nation One Election?
One Nation One Election plan proposal is explained in simple points:
- The former President Ram Nath Kovind committee suggested that the annual multiple elections harm the economy, politics, and society. In response to this, it suggested restoring the policy of simultaneous elections.
- The first feature of the plan will be to coordinate the election dates of the Lok Sabha and the state legislative assemblies. In the next phase, municipal and panchayat elections will be bound together and must be conducted within 100 days of general and state elections.
- Post-General Election Synchronization is a constitutional provision that allows the President of India to notify a day, called the ‘appointed day’, each time after a general election that in the nation’s Lok Sabha is to be summoned. This date will be the beginning of parallel voting. The intention is that the next General Election and Assembly Elections should take place simultaneously to follow the provision of ‘One Nation One Election’. By synchronizing the timelines, elections are made easier, and the number of elections and the disruption caused to governance and public services is minimized.
- When a new state assembly forms, the term may be adapted to fit that of the next general elections. This means that a newly elected state assembly will not complete its term of five years if it is formed mid-term. Moreover, its term will be reduced to enable it to conduct its next election in conjunction with the general elections. This ensures that all the elections (national parliamentary and state assembly) occur within the same period, improving the synchronization of all elections.
- The Kovind committee suggested forming an implementation group to properly monitor the execution of these changes. This group would ensure that all processes, going down to coordinating election schedules, are well completed.
- Constitutional amendments for simultaneous elections, the committee recommended that Article 324A be inserted in the Constitution for complaints in Panchayats and that synchronous elections be held for both Panchayats and Municipalities. It also sought to add a new paragraph to Article 325 to establish the single register of voters and voter’s card with photographs for all the elections. However, this amendment will again need the consent of state legislatures, as with the earlier Two-Party System amendment.
- If we have an unnecessary disruption in parliament or a situation where the government loses a vote of no-confidence, then new elections will be carried out. However, their term of office would be reduced with the demand for the next general election so that all elections would coincide.
- The committee’s recommendations state that there is a need for new elections when there is a hung house or a no-confidence motion. The newly constituted Lok Sabha will function for the remaining period of the unfinished term of the previous one, and state assemblies shall continue till the term of Lok Sabha except that they are dissolved earlier.
- Election Commission’s Role in Planning: The committee urged the Election Commission to make long-term preparations for acquisitions such as EVMs and VVPATs to make the elections’ management efficient.
A Transformative Shift In Democracy
The Ministry of Broadcasting has expressed the “One Nation One Election” idea as a shift in the Indian electoral system. It should seek to solve the classical pre-existing problems like governance stalemate, economic disruptions, and loss of resources due to frequent elections.
With support from the public and political parties, it is expected that the government will feel confident about the proposed amendments and the phased big introduction of the plan to ensure a proper environment in carrying out the required procedures. This change is believed to lessen the pressure on the available resources and enhance political system stability and the electoral process, which is definitely a plus for the government and the people.
The ministry said, “With synchronized elections, India has the opportunity to streamline its democratic processes, reduce financial costs, and ensure consistent governance”.
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