One Nation One Election
One Nation, One Election: Assembly terms cut short in UP, Bengal, Punjab, Gujarat and other states
One Nation, One Election: In the competitive arena of electoral democracy, the continuous cycle of elections often disrupts important policy discussions as electoral dynamics often change across states. and affects the status of political institutions both at the national level
One Nation One Election
One Nation, One Election The high-level panel examined elections in six countries, including South Africa, Sweden and Belgium, before proposing simultaneous elections for both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies in India. Processes studied. Additionally, concurrent elections are held in countries such as Germany, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Belgium.
Panel survey: Most parties support simultaneous elections The panel reached out to 62 parties, receiving responses from 47 of the 32 respondents. Expressed support for holding simultaneous elections while 15 were against the idea. Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) have all opposed the proposal of holding simultaneous elections.
Bharatiya Janata Party Party (BJP) and the National People's Party expressed support for it. There are several reasons supporting the principle of holding simultaneous elections. Within the competitive landscape of electoral democracy, the constant cycle of elections can impede genuine policy discussion, as electoral dynamics often shape the stances of political institutions at both the state and national levels. The run-up to the elections will provide an opportunity to focus on governance and policy-making to reduce uncertainty and boost economic growth.
The expert panel stressed that technical analysis will provide insight into economic growth, inflation, investment and public expenditure in the post-poll period. Favorable results are revealed. Although the direct financial cost of staggered election cycles may not be substantial, the resulting policy ambiguity undermines effective governance Possibility of simultaneous voting in 2029: Constitutional amendment awaited if Center holds simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies in 2029 If India opts to conduct the same, the process will begin immediately after the conclusion of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It is possible that several state assemblies may be dissolved in 2029 before the completion of their five-year terms to facilitate simultaneous elections.
Such a move would require an amendment to the constitutional provisions relating to the tenure of the Lok Sabha and state legislatures during the term of the next Lok Sabha. Although the high-level committee has deferred to the Center the determination of readiness to hold simultaneous elections, it has Outlined suggested roadmap This one-time change will become inevitable if the Center supports the recommendations of the panel headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind 10 states facing imminent 2028 elections Last year, about 10 states New governments were formed in 2028, where elections will be held once again in 2028.
As a result, the new governments formed in these states will remain in power for about a year or less. If the Center decides to implement the ONOE policy, states like Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Karnataka, Telangana, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan will have elections in less than a year. Short-term in major states More importantly, key states like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Punjab are likely to see governments lasting two years or less, despite potentially giving a decisive mandate to a single party. This scenario arises due to their scheduled state elections in 2027. Similarly, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Kerala are expected to see governments lasting only three years, even if a party wins a majority in the upcoming assembly elections, as these states go to the polls in 2026. The proposed amendments are aimed at With the aim of making concurrent elections consistent with constitutional principles,
the Committee has introduced proposed amendments focusing on Article 83, which deals with the tenure of the Lok Sabha, and Article 172, which addresses the tenure of State Legislatures. Does. These amendments are scheduled for implementation through Presidential Notification. Potential impact on the conditions of State Governments However, the effectiveness of this notification depends on obtaining parliamentary support and failure to obtain approval will invalidate the proposed amendments. On the other hand, if the amendments get parliamentary approval, it would pave the way for the implementation of simultaneous elections which would entail cutting the terms of many state governments during the transitional phase.
Panel proposes flexible approach to simultaneous voting While charting a course for the implementation of simultaneous voting, the Committee has entrusted the decision-making authority to the Government with regard to readiness for this important undertaking. According to the report, the central government will determine when arrangements are required to hold simultaneous elections.
Balancing shortterm against long-term economic stability experts argue that the frequency of elections has a substantial impact on the priorities of governments and political parties The constant pressure to win the upcoming election often leads to a focus on short-term political objectives thereby sidelining long-term economic planning As a result important reforms are often postponed as governments prioritize electoral success over what ultimately needs voters. has to bear direct costs