One Nation, One Election

One Nation, One Election

Subject: Polity

Section: Elections

Context: Recently, the government has announced to form a committee to explore the feasibility of “one nation, one election”

More about the news:

• The government has constituted a committee headed by former President of India Ram Nath Kovind to explore the possibility of “one nation, one election”.
• The recent moves by the government have thrown open the possibility of advancing the general elections and some state polls, which are scheduled after and with the Lok Sabha contest

What is Simultaneous election:

• The concept of “One Nation, One Election” envisions a system in which all state and Lok Sabha elections must be held simultaneously.
• This will entail restructuring the Indian election cycle so that elections to the states and the center coincide.
• This would imply that voters will vote for members of the LS and state assemblies on the same day and at the same time.

What is the history holding of Simultaneous Election in India:

• Simultaneous elections have previously been conducted in India in 1952, 1957, 1962 and 1967.
• Soon after, this norm was discontinued following the dissolution of some Legislative Assemblies between 1968 -69. 
• Since then, the Indian Electoral system holds polls to Centre and states separately.

Urge for simultaneous elections:

• The idea of returning to simultaneous elections was raised in the Election Commission’s annual report in 1983. It was also mentioned in the Law Commission’s Report in 1999.
• Following the Prime Minister of India’s reintroduction of the idea in 2016, the NITI Aayog prepared a working paper on the subject in 2017.
• The Law Commission stated in its 2018 working paper that at least “five Constitutional recommendations” would be required to make simultaneous elections a reality in India again.
• In June 2019, PM Modi said that a committee would be formed to examine the issue and a meeting with leaders of political parties would be called.

What are the Constitutional challenges involved:

• The Indian Constitution provides for the dissolution of the legislature if the ruling party loses majority by passing a vote of no confidence.
• Clause (2) of Article 83, Article 172(1) of Indian constitution deals with the term of Lok Sabha and State Assemblies respectively.
• Through Articles 85(2)(b) and 174(2)(b) these Houses can be dissolved ahead of the scheduled expiry of the term of five years
• However, there is no provision for extension of the term unless a proclamation of Emergency is in operation.
• Bringing the terms of all the Houses to sync with one another necessarily calls for either extending the terms of several of the Houses or curtailing of terms or a combination of both, that too by two to three years in some cases.
• In such a case, simultaneous elections could not be held within the existing framework of the Constitution.
• These could be held together through appropriate amendments to:
  • The Constitution,
  • The Representation of the People Act 1951, and
  • The Rules of Procedure of Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.
• Since it will affect federal character, at least 50% of the states will require to ratify the constitutional amendments.