Author: Kata Vishishta Goud, Christ University, Lavasa Campus
To the Point
So, the idea of One Nation, One Election is floating around again – basically, holding elections for the whole country, both national and state levels, at the same time. Seems like a simple fix that could save money and keep things running smoothly, right? Well, it’s not that easy. Think about how it messes with the way our country is set up, with power shared between the central government and the states, and how it could impact our democracy. That’s exactly what we’re exploring here with all the legal and political angles that comes the idea with it.
Use of Legal Jargon
Let’s break down some of the terms you might hear thrown around:
* Simultaneous Elections: This is just the fancy way of saying that everyone votes for both their national and state representatives at the same time
* Federalism: This is how power is split between the main central government and the different states and regions around the country
* Separation of Powers: This is the idea that different parts of the government have different jobs, so no one gets too powerful
* Representative Democracy: We elect people to make choices for us, instead of voting on every single thing ourselves
* Vote of No Confidence: This is when the government loses support and has to prove they can still lead
* Presidential Assent: Before a bill becomes a law, the President has to agree to it
* Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs):These are local groups that help run things at the village and district levels
* Constitutional Amendment: If we want to change something in the Constitution, we have to do this through proper changes and get everyone on board
* Article 324: This part of the Constitution lets the Election Commission make sure elections are done fairly
* Article 83 and 172: These say how long the national and state governments can stay in power
The Proof
This One Nation, One Election idea isn’t new. A lot of groups have looked into it:
* Law Commission of India (2018): They liked the idea but said it would be tricky to pull off. They suggested changing some things in the Constitution and election laws.
* NITI Aayog (2017): They thought it could save money and stop elections from messing up how the government works.
* Parliamentary Committee (2015):They wanted to try it out slowly, in stages.
* Election Commission of India (ECI): They said it would be hard but doable, if they got enough help and changes were made.
* Other Groups: Plenty of other smart people have weighed in, too. Some like the idea, but others worry it could hurt the way the country is set up.
Abstract
Right now, it feels like there’s always an election going on somewhere. National elections, state elections, local elections… Every time there’s an election, rules kick in that stop the government from making big decisions. The One Nation, One Election is trying to fix that by having all the elections at once. It’s supposed to make things run smoother and save money.The Catch? Our Constitution is built to protect the power of the states, so this idea could be a problem. Can we really have all the elections at the same time without making the states less important or messing up our democracy? to make it viable and worth the changes needed.
Case Laws
The courts have looked at this stuff before. Here are a few cases that matter:
* S.R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994): This case said that state governments have a right to do their own thing, and the main government can’t just take over. It’s important when we talk about having the central government set the election schedule for everyone.
* Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975): This case said that elections have to be fair. Any changes to the election schedule have to keep things fair for everyone.
* Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala (1973): the court started a way of thinking, saying there are basic ideas in the constitution, and that’s important for democracy.
* Kihoto Hollohan v. Zachillhu (1992): This said we need to stop people from switching parties too much because it makes the government unstable. Having fewer elections could help with that.
* State of Rajasthan v. Union of India (1977):Said the President has some power over the states, but can’t abuse it. Important for making states follow along with a central election plan.
Sticking Points: What Needs to Change?
To make One Nation, One Election happen, we’d have to change some parts of the Constitution:
* Article 83(2) and Article 172(1):These say how long the national and state governments get to stay in power (five years).
* Article 356: This is about President’s Rule, which can mess with how long state governments last.
* Article 174: This talks about how long state governments can meet.
* Representation of the People Act, 1951: This whole law would need to be changed to fit a new election schedule.
This is difficult because:
* We need a special majority in Parliament to change the Constitution which is often hard to get.
* At least half the states have to agree since it affects how the country is set up.
* Everyone needs to work together and agree, or it could get messy and political.
What are the benefits?
* Reduced Costs:Elections in India are super expensive. Doing them all at once could save a lot of money.
* Administrative Efficiency: The entire government could keep focuses instead of getting slowed down, by election task forces, safety measures, and things like that.
* Policy Continuity: The government could keep making plans without stopping every few months for an election.
*Enhanced National Vision: People might start voting for what’s best for the whole country, instead of just local problems.
What is the possible downside?
* Federal Concerns:Smaller regions can get overlooked because it is not local and can get less important.
* Democratic Deficit Sometimes politicians will change dates or end the terms and this might not be what voters want.
* Operational Hurdles This all takes more people, machines, lists of voters and is hard to put together.
* Complex Implementation It all is complex and across the country.
How This Could Mess with Political Parties
This kind of election might help the big, national parties that everyone knows. Smaller parties might not get as much attention if people are focused on national issues instead of what’s happening in their area. These parties start losing influence or merging into others.
How Voters Might Act
Studies show that people tend to vote for the same party in both state and national elections when they’re held together. This means the state elections maybe less focused.
How Could We Actually Do This?
* Slowly: Start by having elections together in a few places, and then expand it over time.
* Change Terms: Make some governments shorter or longer to match the national election cycle.
* Deal with Problems:If a government falls apart in the middle of its term, have someone take over temporarily until the next election.
What Do Other Countries Do?
*South Africa: Holds national and local elections at the same time
* Sweden: Holds all elections on the same day
* United Kingdom:Has separate elections but can call them early if needed
India is really different and complex, so we can’t just copy what other countries do. But we can learn from how they handle elections.
Conclusion
One Nation, One Election could be a big change for India. It could save money and make the government work better. But we have to be careful to protect the way our country is set up and make sure everyone gets a fair say. This means talking to each other, trying things out slowly, and making sure voters know what’s going on, this will strengthen democracy for future generations.
FAQS
1. What does One Nation, One Election mean?
Voting for national and state governments at the same time.
2. Did India ever do this before?
Yes which was over by 1967.
3. Is it possible to do this?
Yes as long as the laws are changed.
4. Will it hurt the states?
It could if they are not given a voice when decisions are made.
5. What if a government falls?
A temporary replacement is placed until the new voting takes place.
6. Do other countries do this?
Yes some do but each country is different.
7.Will it stop corruption and money problems in elections?
It might reduce how often these acts are happening.
8. Does the Election Commission like this idea?
Yes but they are concerned about how to deal with it.
9.What’s next?
Change the laws and test runs.
10. Do the people want this?
Views are mixed they want what is best for their own local level.
