Proposal
Union minister Ashwini Vishnaw declared on Wednesday that the plan for nationwide simultaneous elections that would align votes for the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies has been approved by the Union Cabinet. The decision is the result of months of consideration and the submission of a report on the ‘one nation, one election’ concept by a high-level committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind. The paper lays out a detailed implementation roadmap for simultaneous elections and was presented before the Cabinet on Wednesday.
The group had suggested holding simultaneous elections for the state and Lok Sabha assemblies as the first stage, with local body elections to be synchronized within a hundred days. The plan seeks to simplify India’s electoral system by lowering the number of elections, which are now spaced out over several years at various governmental levels. Additionally, it is viewed as a cost-cutting strategy that might greatly lessen the administrative and financial strain associated with regular elections.
PMs initiative
‘One nation, one election’ is a proposal that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vigorously supported. Modi had demanded a stop to the “disruption” brought on by regular elections during his Independence Day speech earlier this year, claiming that they were impeding the nation’s advancement. “Regular elections are posing obstacles to the country’s advancement. Elections can now be easily connected to any program or project. Every three to six months, elections take place someplace.
Ruling party’s opinion on this initiative
The concept was also included in the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party‘s (BJP) program for the general elections of 2024 as a top priority. Many BJP members have expressed support for the initiative, although it is unclear how other political parties will react.
Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the Congress party, stated, “We don’t stand with this,” in opposition to the plan. In a democracy, One Nation, One Election is ineffective. If we want our democracy to endure, elections must be held as and when necessary. Up to eighteen constitutional revisions were recommended by the group, the majority of which state assemblies won’t have to ratify. These, however, would necessitate specific constitutional change bills that Parliament would have to approve.
It is requested that modifications to the single voter ID card and single electoral roll be approved by a minimum of half of the states.
It is anticipated that the Law Commission of India will shortly produce its own report on the matter.
