What is One Nation, One Election and what is the fuss around it?

The concept of One Nation, One Election (ONOE), while not entirely new, has recently stirred considerable debate in the country's political landscape. Political parties spanning the spectrum have been expressing their concerns and support for the simultaneous conduct of General elections (for electing Lok Sabha MPs) and State Assembly elections (for electing MLAs) across all states.

This recent debate gained momentum following the Central government's decision to establish a committee, headed by Former President of India Ram Nath Kovind, to explore the feasibility of this ambitious plan. The committee also includes Home Minister Amit Shah and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the Congress leader in the lower house.

The core objective of ONOE is primarily to reduce the frequency of elections in a country that often finds itself in a perpetual "poll mode."

Benefits

• ONOE could potentially reduce the overall cost of elections by synchronising state and general polls, it might also address the logistical challenges of security personnel deployment.
• Supporters say that it may provide governments with five stable years to focus on governance rather than election campaigns, which looks noble. The disruptions as a result of the moral code of conduct in place before elections pause ongoing developmental works, which the ONOE looks to fix.

• The proposal also suggests a mechanism to prevent the removal of a government without a viable alternative.

Concerns

• Apart from the political oppositions, the ONOE plan faces the constitutional feasibility question, as the Constitution of India has fixed five-year tenures for both Lok Sabha and State Assemblies unless dissolved before its completion.
• Addressing mid-term collapses of governments raises complex questions and needs significant constitutional amendments as the proposal does not address hung legislatures or premature government dissolutions.
• The opposition feels that the ONOE is in violation of the idea of federalism in India, as it looks to imply the entire nation as "one," against the constitutional description of India as a "Union of States."

• Critics have also said that the current system allows voters to express their views more frequently and prevents the confusion and blending of issues between national and state polls.
• ONOE might also lead to voters prioritising national issues over local ones, benefiting larger parties and smaller regional ones bearing the brunt. The parties with a bigger might to shape narratives could possibly benefit from the move.

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A background

• Simultaneous elections were a norm initially in India from 1951 to 1967 after the Constitution kicked in. However, by the 70s the frequent dissolution of the state governments and defections unsynchronised the flow further.
• In 2018, the Law Commission of India highlighted the need for constitutional and legal amendments to make this a reality. They recommended that at least 50% of states must approve the proposal.

• Despite challenges, simultaneous elections offer benefits like cost savings, reduced administrative strain, timely policy implementation, and a shift from campaigning to development activities.

If ONOE becomes a reality, it could have significant implications for India's political landscape. It may reduce anti-incumbency factors, especially in states where the ruling party has lost ground. However, it could also pose challenges for regional parties, as they may struggle to match the financial resources and campaign power of national parties.