• One Nation, One Election refers to the proposal of conducting simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha (the lower house of India’s Parliament) and all state legislative assemblies. 
  • The idea seeks to synchronize the electoral calendar across India, ensuring elections are held at the same time across the country. 

Historical Background:

  • Simultaneous elections were a common practice in India during the first two decades post-independence, with elections to both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies held together in 1952, 1957, 1962, and 1967.
  • However, the cycle was disrupted due to the premature dissolution of certain state assemblies and the Lok Sabha in the late 1960s and 1970s.

Need for One Nation One Election

  • Cost and Resource Savings: Simultaneous polls reduce repeated expenditure on administration, security, logistics and deployment of central forces.
  • Governance Continuity: Fewer interruptions from frequent campaigning let elected governments prioritise policy implementation and long‑term projects.
  • Reduced Administrative Fatigue: bureaucrats avoid repeated election‑related duties, improving public service delivery.

Arguments Against

  • Federalism and State Autonomy: Synchronisation could weaken state governments’ ability to call fresh elections responsive to local crises, concentrating scheduling leverage at the Centre.
  • Democratic Representation and Accountability: Mid‑term assemblies allow voters to pass judgment on state governments between general elections; removing this may reduce political responsiveness.
  • Practical and Logistical Challenges: conducting simultaneous polls across India’s size and diversity raises major ECI resource, staffing, and EVM/IT preparedness issues.
  • Impact on Regional Parties and Local Issues: national campaigns could overshadow state or local concerns, disadvantaging smaller/regional players.

Constitutional and Legal Changes Required

  • Amendment needed for Article 83 and Article 172, Part XV, governing elections.
  • Amendment needed for the Representation of the People Act.
  • A high-level committee was set up by the Union government under the chairmanship of the former President of India, Shri. Ram Nath Kovind.
    • The committee proposed simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, and Local self-government institutions of India

 

Source: The Hindu