'One Nation, One Election’: India takes major step towards unified polls
Economists believe after its implementation, country’s GDP will rise by 1-1.5%
Dubai: India’s federal cabinet has approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bills, proposing simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and eventually municipal bodies.
This marks a significant step towards transforming the country’s electoral process. The initiative, first endorsed by the Union Cabinet in September 2024, is now set to be introduced in Parliament in the ongoing winter session.
A comprehensive bill is expected to follow this decision, paving the way for unified elections across the nation.
The Congress on Thursday reiterated its opposition to the very idea of simultaneous polls and accused the government of trying to divert attention from “questions being raised on the electoral integrity of the democratic system”.
On Wednesday, former President of India Ram Nath Kovind stated that the Central government must build a consensus on the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative, emphasising that the issue transcends political interests and serves the nation as a whole.
Recommendations
peaking to the media, Kovind, who chairs the committee on the issue, said, “The Central government will have to build consensus. This issue is not in the interest of any party but the nation. It (One Nation, One Election) will be a game-changer--it’s not my opinion but that of economists, who believe that after its implementation, the country’s GDP will rise by 1-1.5 per cent.”
Notably, in September this year, the Union Cabinet approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, which aims to hold simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, along with urban body and panchayat polls, within a span of 100 days.
The recommendations were outlined in a report by a high-level panel chaired by former President Kovind.
Following the Cabinet’s approval, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the decision, calling it a significant step towards enhancing India’s democracy.
“The Cabinet has accepted the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections. I complement our former President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji, for spearheading this effort and consulting a wide range of stakeholders. This is an important step towards making our democracy even more vibrant and participative,” PM Modi posted on X.
Key highlights of the Bill Bills approved:
Amendment to Article 82: Revises state-wise Lok Sabha seat allocations and constituency divisions after each national census.
Linking tenures: Proposes aligning the terms of the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and union territories (Delhi, Puducherry, Jammu & Kashmir). Local body elections, however, require ratification by at least 50% of states.
Rationale: Frequent elections disrupt public programmes, lead to financial strain, and hinder governance.
Unified elections could optimise resources and increase GDP by 1–1.5 per cent, as per economists consulted by former President Ram Nath Kovind, who leads the high-level panel on the initiative.
Support and opposition
Support: Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a step towards a vibrant democracy, praising the effort to synchronise elections.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasiced cost-saving and efficiency, noting frequent elections waste public funds and disrupt governance.
Opposition: The Congress and regional parties argue that simultaneous polls could overshadow local issues and disadvantage smaller parties in competing with national ones. Challenges ahead Synchronising terms of state assemblies with the Lok Sabha remains the biggest hurdle.
Addressing scenarios like midterm elections or President’s rule requires clear solutions. Regional parties fear losing focus on local issues and unequal competition with national parties. Potential impact Proponents believe ‘One Nation, One Election’ will streamline governance, simplify the electoral process, and foster economic growth by enabling businesses to operate without policy uncertainty during frequent elections.