Daily Current Affairs : 2-September-2023
The Union government of India has recently formed a committee, led by former president Ram Nath Kovind, to explore the feasibility of “One Nation, One Election.” But what exactly does this term mean, and what implications does it carry for the world’s largest democracy? Let’s delve into the concept, its background, pros, cons, and the potential way forward.
Understanding ‘One Nation, One Election’
Meaning: The ‘One Nation, One Election’ concept envisions a synchronized electoral system where elections for all states and the Lok Sabha (the lower house of India’s parliament) occur simultaneously. Voters would cast their votes for both national and state representatives on a single day.
Historical Background
Simultaneous elections were the standard practice in India until 1967. However, due to the dissolution of some Legislative Assemblies in 1968 and 1969, the practice was discontinued. The idea of returning to simultaneous polls first appeared in the Election Commission’s annual report in 1983, and it was further discussed in the Law Commission’s 1999 report. The Niti Aayog presented a working paper on the subject in January 2017, and in April 2018, the Law Commission outlined that five constitutional amendments would be needed for implementation.
Pros of ‘One Nation, One Election’
- Cost Reduction: Conducting separate elections requires substantial financial resources. Simultaneous elections would significantly reduce this burden.
- Administrative and Security Efficiency: Simultaneous elections would ease the strain on administrative and security forces, freeing them from multiple election-related duties.
- Focus on Governance: Governments can concentrate more on governance and policy implementation instead of perpetually being in election mode.
- Higher Voter Turnout: The Law Commission believes that simultaneous elections could increase voter turnout as it becomes more convenient for people to cast multiple ballots at once.
- Policy Continuity: It can ensure continuity in the policies and programs of central and state governments, as the Model Code of Conduct currently hinders new project launches during election periods.
Cons of ‘One Nation, One Election’
- Diverse Issues: National and state issues often differ significantly, and simultaneous elections may blur the judgment of voters.
- Reduced Accountability: Lengthening the election cycle to once every five years could reduce the government’s accountability to the people.
- Legislator Vigilance: Frequent elections keep legislators on their toes, ensuring they remain responsive to their constituents.
- President’s Rule: When state elections are postponed for synchronized polls, President’s rule must be imposed, potentially undermining democracy and federalism.
- Regional Suppression: Regional issues might be overshadowed by national concerns, impacting state-level electoral outcomes.
- Political Opposition: The consensus among political parties remains a significant hurdle, as opposition parties have opposed ‘One Nation, One Election.’
- Logistical Challenges: Coordinating around 30 lakh electronic voting machines (EVMs), voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines, and deploying central forces across the vast country poses immense logistical challenges.
Important Points:
- ‘One Nation, One Election’ aims to synchronize national and state elections, allowing voters to cast their ballots for both on a single day.
Historical Background:
- Simultaneous elections were the norm until 1967 but stopped due to legislative dissolutions.
- Discussion on returning to simultaneous polls began in 1983 and was reiterated in the 1999 Law Commission report.
- Niti Aayog’s working paper in 2017 and Law Commission’s 2018 report outlined the need for constitutional amendments.
Pros:
- Cost Reduction: Simultaneous elections significantly reduce the financial burden of conducting separate polls.
- Administrative and Security Efficiency: It eases the strain on administrative and security forces.
- Governance Focus: Governments can concentrate on governance instead of election mode.
- Higher Voter Turnout: Convenience leads to potentially increased voter turnout.
- Policy Continuity: Simultaneous polls prevent the Model Code of Conduct from hindering new projects during election periods.
Cons:
- Diverse Issues: Simultaneous elections may blur the judgment of voters as national and state issues differ.
- Reduced Accountability: A longer election cycle (once every five years) may reduce government accountability.
- Legislator Vigilance: Frequent elections keep legislators responsive to constituents.
- President’s Rule: Imposing President’s rule during postponed state elections could undermine democracy.
- Regional Suppression: National concerns might overshadow regional issues, affecting state-level outcomes.
- Political Opposition: Consensus among political parties is a significant hurdle.
- Logistical Challenges: Coordinating millions of EVMs, VVPATs, and security forces poses logistical challenges.
Why In News
The Union government, under the leadership of former president Ram Nath Kovind, has taken a significant step forward by establishing a committee to thoroughly investigate the practicality of implementing the “one nation, one election” initiative. This initiative aims to streamline and synchronize the electoral process across the nation, potentially bringing about a new era of efficiency and electoral reform.
MCQs about One Nation, One Election
-
What is the potential drawback associated with simultaneous elections?
A. Reduced voter turnout
B. Improved policy continuity
C. Decreased government accountability
D. Streamlined logistical challenges
-
What historical practice does ‘One Nation, One Election’ seek to revive in India?
A. Simultaneous elections to all legislative bodies
B. Annual elections at the state and national levels
C. Synchronized elections for state and local governments
D. No historical practice is being revived
-
What is a significant challenge associated with implementing ‘One Nation, One Election’?
A. Increased political consensus
B. Lack of logistical challenges
C. Improved regional representation
D. Coordinating millions of electronic voting machines
Boost up your confidence by appearing our Weekly Current Affairs Multiple Choice Questions
