One Nation, One Election: A Policy Overview

The concept of 'One Nation, One Election' (ONOE) proposes synchronising the elections for the Lok Sabha and all State Legislative Assemblies across India, holding them concurrently. While this system was in place for the first few general elections (1952-1967), it broke down due to the frequent premature dissolution of legislative bodies. The proposal to revive ONOE is driven primarily by the need for administrative efficiency and cost reduction.

Rationale for Simultaneous Polls

Proponents highlight several benefits of holding synchronous elections:

1. 1. Massive Cost Reduction: The continuous cycle of elections demands colossal financial expenditure from the government, the Election Commission of India (ECI), and political parties. ONOE would consolidate these expenses, potentially saving billions of rupees annually.
2. 2. Administrative Efficiency: Frequent elections require the repeated deployment of central armed police forces (CAPF) and the diversion of administrative personnel (teachers, civil servants) for election duty, straining governance. ONOE would free up these resources for five years.
3. 3. End of 'Governance Deficit': The continuous imposition of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) halts new development projects and policy announcements. ONOE would minimize the time spent under the MCC, ensuring governments have longer, uninterrupted periods to focus on policy implementation and stability.

Constitutional and Logistical Challenges

Despite the economic appeal, ONOE faces formidable constitutional and logistical barriers:

1. Constitutional Amendments

The existing constitutional framework guarantees the dissolution of elected bodies under specific conditions, which is the primary reason synchronicity was broken. Implementing ONOE requires amendments to Articles of the Constitution, including:

• • Article 83 & 172 (Tenure): These govern the five-year term of the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
• • Article 85 & 174 (Dissolution): These grant the power to dissolve the houses prematurely.
• • Article 356 (President's Rule): Imposition of President's Rule in a state often leads to the dissolution of the Assembly, immediately breaking the synchronisation.

To overcome this, mechanisms like a Constructive Vote of No-Confidence (where a government can only be dismissed if a successor is simultaneously identified) would be necessary to ensure legislative continuity.

2. Threat to Federalism

Critics argue that simultaneous polls risk diluting the importance of state issues. In a combined election, the national narrative and the popularity of national leaders tend to overshadow regional concerns, potentially leading to a disadvantage for regional parties and compromising the focus on local accountability.

3. Logistical Scale

While costs are saved in the long run, the initial investment for a single, massive national election would be huge, requiring the ECI to procure millions of new Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and VVPAT machines, along with unprecedented simultaneous security deployment.

Conclusion

The push for ONOE represents a trade-off between efficiency and stability on one hand, and federal diversity and democratic accountability on the other. While the economic argument is strong, the process demands political consensus across parties and crucial amendments to the fundamental laws governing the tenure and dissolution of elected bodies, ensuring the democratic structure remains intact.