These days, the issue of ‘one country one election’ has become a topic of discussion in the country. In fact, on August 31, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi shared the information about calling a special session of Parliament from September 18 to 22. The very next day after the Central Government’s decision to call a special session, information about forming a committee for ‘One Country One Election’ came to light. Since then, a period of deliberation is going on regarding holding simultaneous elections of Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies.
There are speculations that the government may introduce this bill in the special session. Bharatiya Janata Party has wanted one country, one election for a long time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also been in favor of holding elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies simultaneously. He has also mentioned it and described it as the need of India.
Government constituted high level committee
Recently, the Central Government has constituted a high level committee to find out whether Lok Sabha and Assembly elections can be held simultaneously across the country or not. This committee will study the electoral process of India and on the basis of that will submit its report to the government. The government will decide its stand on the basis of that report.
Ramnath Kovind became president
The committee constituted by the Central Government will be headed by former President Ramnath Kovind. Home Minister Amit Shah, former leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Finance Commission Chairman NK Singh, former Lok Sabha General Secretary Subhash C Kashyap, senior lawyer Harish Salve, former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Sanjay Kothari will be the members of the committee. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Choudhary has also been included in the committee, but he has refused to be a part of this committee.
Election Commission had also given suggestion
The effort to reconnect the chain of simultaneous elections that was broken since 1967 remained cold for almost 16 years. In the year 1983, the Election Commission for the first time suggested in its annual report that along with the Lok Sabha, assembly elections should also be held in the states. But the then government did not pay heed to the commission’s suggestion. However, the issue resurfaced again in 1999 when the Law Commission insisted on holding simultaneous elections.
Law Commission’s recommendation
The Law Commission, headed by Justice BP Jeevan Reddy, had recommended holding simultaneous elections in its report on electoral law reforms in 1999. It was said that to ensure stability in governance, elections for Lok Sabha and all the Assemblies should be held simultaneously. According to the report, ‘The process of holding elections every year and out of season should be ended. We should return to the situation where elections for the Lok Sabha and all the Assemblies were held simultaneously. The Commission had also said that in the current situation, the goal of holding simultaneous elections every five years will have to be achieved in a phased manner.
What did the parliamentary standing committee say
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice under the leadership of M Sudarshana Natchiappan had presented its report in the House on December 17, 2015 on the possibility of holding simultaneous elections. It was said in this report that a lot of money is spent due to frequent elections. Normal life is affected and essential services are affected. Development works are affected due to the implementation of Model Code of Conduct by the Election Commission. It was also said in the report that security forces have to be deployed for a long time for elections, which puts a burden on them.
Law Commission’s draft report
The Law Commission, headed by Justice BS Chauhan, had said in its draft report on August 30, 2018 that simultaneous elections cannot be held under the current structure of the Constitution. For this, the People’s Representation Act 1951 of the Constitution and the rules of procedure of Lok Sabha and Assemblies will have to be amended. Also, at least 50 percent of the states will have to accept the amendments.
Benefits of simultaneous elections
In the draft report submitted in August 2018, the Law Commission has also pointed out the benefits of holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and all the state assemblies. according to the report,
Holding simultaneous elections will save public money.
The burden on administrative system and security forces will be reduced.
Timely implementation of government policies will be ensured.
Administrative machinery will be engaged in development work instead of being engaged in election work.
Elections have been held simultaneously before also
After the country became independent, elections were held for the first time in 1952. Then along with the general elections (Lok Sabha), elections were also held for the legislative assemblies of all the states. The same thing happened five years later, in 1957. However, due to the reorganization of states, i.e. formation of new states, elections in 76 percent of the states were held along with the Lok Sabha. But this trend of simultaneous elections was broken for the first time when in 1959, the then Congress government at the Center dismissed the communist government of EMS Namboodiripad of Kerala using Article 356.
After this, assembly elections were held again in Kerala in February 1960. Thus, this was the first case of mid-term elections in any state of the country. However, after this, in 1962 and 1967 also, elections for the Legislative Assemblies of 67 percent of the states were held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha.
After the country became independent, elections were held for the first time in 1952. Then along with the general elections (Lok Sabha), elections were also held for the legislative assemblies of all the states. The same thing happened five years later, in 1957. However, due to the reorganization of states, i.e. formation of new states, elections in 76 percent of the states were held along with the Lok Sabha. But this trend of simultaneous elections was broken for the first time when in 1959, the then Congress government at the Center dismissed the communist government of EMS Namboodiripad of Kerala using Article 356. After this, assembly elections were held again in Kerala in February 1960. Thus, this was the first case of mid-term elections in any state of the country. However, after this, in 1962 and 1967 also, elections for the Legislative Assemblies of 67 percent of the states were held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha.
This is how the sequence broke
In the years 1968 and 1969, some state assemblies could not complete their stipulated tenure and the assemblies were dissolved prematurely. Due to this, the trend of one country one election was completely broken. In fact, in the 1967 elections, Congress suffered setbacks in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Odisha and Madras. At many places, Congress rebels formed governments with other parties. But many such coalition governments could not complete their stipulated tenure of five years and fell. In the year 1970, the Lok Sabha was also dissolved prematurely and general elections were held again in 1971. After this, the tenure of the fifth Lok Sabha was extended till 1977. The Sixth, Seventh, Ninth, 11th, 12th and 13th Lok Sabha were also dissolved prematurely. Thus, since 1967, elections for the Lok Sabha and all the Legislative Assemblies could not be held simultaneously.
These are some of the major challenges
If One Nation One Election is implemented in the country, then for this five articles of the Constitution – 83, 85, 172, 174 and 356 will have to be amended. Article 83 deals with the tenure of both Houses of Parliament, Article 85 deals with dissolution of the Lok Sabha by the President, Article 172 deals with the tenure of State Assemblies, Article 174 deals with dissolution of State Assemblies and Article 356 deals with imposition of President’s rule in the states.
To implement One Country One Election, it is necessary to have the consent of all political parties and all state governments.
Additional EVM/VVPAT will be required for this work. At present there are one million polling stations in the country. If VVPAT system is used in the entire country, then double the number of VVPATs will be required to conduct simultaneous elections. Thus, to conduct simultaneous elections, more than nine thousand two hundred and eighty-four crore rupees will have to be spent on the purchase of EVMs and VVPATs.
To keep EVMs, the need for storage will double, which can cause problems.
Additional polling personnel and security forces will be required, which will put pressure on the states.
Adequate funds will also be required to hold simultaneous elections.
the way forward
Elections are held in different states in the country at an interval of a few months and due to the implementation of the code of conduct, development work gets disrupted. In order for the development work to continue smoothly, in-depth discussion and study on the issue of one country, one election is necessary. The central government, state governments, all parties and experts should come together to reach a consensus on whether the nation needs one country, one election or not. Here there is a need to rise above the party and think in the interest of the country.
critics opinion
While many parties are in support of holding simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies, many are against it. Critics say that the idea of holding simultaneous elections is politically motivated. Holding simultaneous elections can affect the behavior of voters in such a way that they will start voting on national issues even for the assembly elections. Due to this, there is a possibility that big national parties will win both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Due to this, there is a possibility of regional parties being marginalized. At the same time, some critics believe that facing the voters more than once every five years increases the accountability of the leaders and keeps them alert. The opposing parties include Congress, NCP, CPI, Trinamool Congress, Telugu Desam, AIMIM etc.
These parties are in support
Many parties including AIADMK, Assam Gana Parishad, IUML, Biju Janata Dal are in support of One Country One Election.
What does the Election Commission say
When asked about one country one election, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has said that India’s elections are ready to work as per the constitutional provisions and the Representation of the People Act (RP Act).