This has been one of the issues of big debate in India. The talk is going hot, and one of the questions arises is whether India is ready for an all-inclusive electoral process in which all elections get combined. It is this idea that the government has floated to reduce the financial and administrative burden with good governance and stability in the economy, which has evoked questions on its feasibility and implications from the opposition parties.
This article takes us deep into the idea of One Nation One Election. We will be trying to understand the points for and against this idea, as well as the influence it can possibly have on the Indian economy, the governance, and the stability in political life.
Knowing One Nation One Election
One Nation One Election would thus refer to the elections of Lok Sabha (Parliament) and State Legislative Assemblies and other local bodies at one stroke throughout the country. Today, in India, elections are conducted at different times: Lok Sabha elections are conducted once in five years; state assembly elections, by-elections, panchayat elections, and civic body elections take place year after year. Elections have now become the way of Indian democracy.
The government says that continuous elections disturb the governance process, with many administrative burdens added along with huge financial expenses. So this is how the simultaneous idea of holding elections may also be in support of such suggestions.
Reasons in Support of One Nation One Election
1. Bringing Down the Cost
One of the strongest arguments for One Nation One Election is that it reduces the cost of holding many elections. Elections involve high logistic arrangements in the following: setting up polling stations, issuance of materials and election brochures to be printed, mobilizing election staff and transportation resources.
Every election will require employing polling officers and training them together with supervising security personnel.
The allowance of staff and officers is also differentiated during the time of election duty. The government gives travel bills.
Political parties also spend many money during the campaign and advertising.
Election expenditure in such elections held across India under this system is estimated to run anywhere between ₹55,000 crore to ₹1,10,000 crore. Figures like these call for finding ways that reduce such expenses without further delay.
2. Administrative Efficiency
Repeated elections put tremendous pressure on administrative machinery. During elections:
- Government officers and staff are requisitioned for electoral work and their routine duties get affected.
- Polling stations and voters of the concerned areas deserve to be assured of law enforcement which is so grossly overburdened.
- Administrations of public services and process of development works get affected due to distraction and diversion of officials for electoral work.
In One Nation One Election, administrative work will be streamlined in such a way that government officials will be less distracted by repeated elections in order to focus on governance.
3. Economic Impact and Governance Disturbance
The repetitive elections distract the economic activities and governance because MCC is imposed. MCC begins once the elections start, and any new government policies, projects, or welfare schemes can’t be launched or initiated.
Elections do not coincide with development projects.
Most of the time, the welfare schemes of the citizenry get postponed.
Policy paralysis and governance deficits occur because of repeated elections.
This would mean around 1.5 percentage points of real GDP growth, which would translate to ₹7.5 lakh crore in FY 2024. More importantly, minimization of disruptions will boost private investments as elections create uncertainty and affect investor confidence.
4. Increased Turnout of Voters
Simultaneous elections increase the chances of high voting turnout because the problem of voter fatigue is eliminated. Inconvenience and apathy make voters afraid to go to the polling stations to vote for state, local, and by-elections repeatedly. In the One Nation One Election format, all forms of governments can be voted for on one single day. This will become easier, and more voters are likely to go to polling stations.
5. Political and Economic Stability
Political stability would be upheld as central and state government would share common policy mandate. For the purposes of effective economic growth policy, framing of policies, or development for the nation- Stability has been the one and the only need.
Challenge and Concerns about One Nation One Election
The advantage can be seen still, with a lot, the opposing parties, analyst, or experts have opposed it.
1. Constitutional and Legal Challenges
Under the Indian Constitution, different tenures are there for Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies. It will involve several amendments in the Constitution, especially under Articles 83, 85, 172, and 174 to be made amenable to One Nation One Election.
Agreement among the states and political parties is a must if the system has to change from the existing one.
This will not be easy either in logistic terms or in legal terms because if state assemblies and Lok Sabha have terms.
2. Federal Structure
It is a federal structure of India. The Center government and the State government function independently. One Nation One Election will eliminate independence in the hands of the center government.
3. Operational and Logistical Challenges
It would require huge planning, resources, and infrastructure to conduct simultaneous elections across India.
- There would be a requirement of proper management of polling stations and election officials amounting to 10 lakhs.
- High security arrangements all over the country will ensure free and fair elections.
- EVMs and VVPATs would require upgradation, and enough numbers will have to be prepared.
4. Impact on Local Issues
State and regional issues can get drowned in simultaneous elections by national issues. State and regional parties may lose the focus of their particular campaign in the shadow of larger national parties.
Economic Cost of Conducting Elections Often
Elections are extremely costly in economics. Apart from all those, there are direct costs involved in conducting elections. Economic activities get disrupted in the following ways by frequent elections:
- Financial Cost: Repeated elections cost between ₹55,000 crore to ₹1,10,000 crore which could have otherwise been invested in the process of development schemes.
- Economic Impact on GDP: The GDP growth would increase 1.5 percentage points bringing huge economic benefits.
- Financial and Logistical Disruptions to Migrant Workers: About 450 million workers get financially and logistically disrupted during elections and thus will miss voting and also disruptions with their economic activities.
- Investment Uncertainty: Synchronized elections remove political uncertainty scaring private investment. Political uncertainty due to more frequent elections scares long-term investment.
Conclusion: Is One Nation One Election Viable?
One Nation One Election would also result in economic efficiency along with administrative streamlining as well as political stability. Since these elections would reduce the election cost and minimum disturbance caused by frequently held elections, this suggestion is most likely to improve governance, thereby promoting economic growth.
This proposal is full of constitutional amendment to logistic challenges and federalism. Reform would require an agreement by the parties involved for such reforms, addressing some operational challenges that would be found on the way, with fair representation of local issues before implementation.
While One Nation One Election promises transformative benefit to India, it still needs careful planning, consultation, and far-reaching political agreement. If made right, it would change the course of Indian democracy because making elections more effective and reducing economic disruption would spur stability in governance.
FAQ
1. What is One Nation One Election?
One Nation One Election pertains to the concept of electing Lok Sabha, Parliament, State Legislative Assembly elections and other local body elections all under one election in India. The essence of this notion is that the government could curtail the expenditure and hassles involved in the fact that there are so many elections happening throughout a year.
2. Why is the One Nation One Election a topic of conversation?
It depends as many argue that too many frequent elections have a lot of economic and logistics burden. According to the government, if they held these elections together, better governance can be achieved along with financial and economic stability, using of which shall increase.
3. What are the benefits of One Nation One Election?
Cost Saving: This will save the astronomical cost of holding several elections. Separate holding would cost between ₹55,000 crore and ₹1,10,000 crore estimates say.
Administrative Efficiency: Holding the simultaneous election will automatically reduce the burden from administrative staff and government officers’ personnel.
Economic Impact: That can enhance GDP growth by doing away with policy paralysis as governance is held back during periods when the elections are going to happen.
Increased Voter Turnout: The simultaneous elections would probably have an increase in the turnout of the electors since the issue of voter fatigue due to consecutive cycles of elections can be obviated.
Political Stability: The concurring of the joint mandate between Centre and State would lead to more homogenous policy making and hence stable governance.
4. What are the problems with One Nation One Election?
Constitutional and Legal Issues: This would require a sea change in the Indian Constitution- Articles 83, 85, 172, and 174.
Federal Structure Issues: This would be highly destructive to the autonomy of the state as the Indian constitution is federal.
Operational and Logistical Issues: Elections to be held at multiple places across the country would require huge resources. It would also involve co-ordination of millions of polling staff, security, and electronic voting machines’ upgradation.
Impact on Regional Issues: This may lead to denial of regional and local issues that would have affected the state-level campaign.
5. What are the Indian economic implications of One Nation One Election?
The concurrent elections will most probably have a good economic impact because it minimizes the disruptions that a multiple of elections throughout the year may cause. In this manner, there is a higher chance of having consistent governance with lesser delay in economic policies and developmental programs. According to different studies, this will increase the GDP growth by 1.5 percentage points and add additional ₹7.5 lakh crores to the economy.
6. What does One Nation One Election do to the participation of voters in elections?
One Nation One Election is most likely to take more voters to the ballots since there will be voting once for all election cycles and will not feel fatigue and inconveniences of frequent cycles.
7. What is the risk from One Nation One Election?
Political Shocks: In such an eventuality when national parties are able to gain predominance on the electoral level of India, this would remove focus on regional issues that would hence water down any regional party stronghold.
Issues in Implementations: All such gigantic plans of coverings across and up till the entire India would amount to gargantuan exercise towards logistics, planning, and resource mobilisation.
8. Can India be the one nation, one election?
It has great promise in terms of economic and governance betterment for India, yet it comes with challenges and not without them. These would require constitutional amendments and political consensus. If done correctly, it would mean good elections and stable governance.
