20-12-2024
06:15 AM
The One Nation, One Election Bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha with a ratio of 269 votes in favour and 198 votes against the passing of the bill. The bill proposes to hold simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, State Legislative assemblies and local body elections across the whole country. This proposal aims to align the election process leading to cost cutting and better governance by eliminating election related disruptions. This bill was analysed by a high-level committee chaired by President Ram Nath Kovind. While the opposition is still against this bill, a major number of leaders are looking at the benefits and consistently this bill could bring. In this article, we will look at this bill and the benefits and significance of this proposal.
The One Nation One Election Bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha with 269 votes being in favour of the bill and 198 votes against passing the motion. The bill was approved by the Union Cabinet with an aim to align the election processes of states and Union Territories including Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry and New Delhi. The bill has been proposed to be deliberated through a Joint Parliamentary Committee(JPC). The report issued by the JPC will have to get approval by the Cabinet in order to be discussed in the parliament again.
Also known as simultaneous elections, one nation one election bill aims to hold all the elections including that of Lok Sabha, State Elections and panchayat that is the local body electrons all at once. In this manner, voters will be able to cast their votes for both the Lok Sabha and State elections all on the same day.
The initiative will be conducted in two phases. In the first phase the Lok Sabha and State elections will be held together and in the second phase the local body elections that includes panchayats and municipalities elections will be conducted within 100 days of general elections.
The years 1951-52, 1962 and 1967 witnessed simultaneous elections dating back the concept of one nation one election to the early years of Indian Independence. This process was only discontinued after the 1967 elections due to the premature dissolution of a few state assemblies and Lok Sabha in 1970. Since then the elections are being conducted separately which is only leading to increased costs. The concept of one nation one election has been revived recently with the aim of aligning India’s electoral process.
A bill can only be taken forward with analyzing its positives and negatives. Let's have a look at the advantages and disadvantages of One Nation One Election Bill:
The implementation of the One Nation, One Election policy is not feasible within the current constitutional framework. To enable this policy, certain essential amendments to the Constitution are necessary, including:
These amendments are critical to harmonize the electoral processes at both the central and state levels, ensuring the successful implementation of the policy.
While the One Nation One Election implementation could significantly bring down the costs of conducting the elections and align the administrative practices, there are a few challenges that cannot be ignored:
Q1. What is "One Nation One Election"?
Ans. A policy proposal to conduct elections for the Lok Sabha and all State Assemblies simultaneously to streamline the electoral process.
Q2. Why are simultaneous elections in India considered beneficial?
Ans. They reduce the cost, time, and disruption caused by frequent elections while ensuring administrative efficiency.
Q3. What constitutional amendments are needed for One Nation One Election in India?
Ans. Amendments to Articles 83, 85, 172, and 174 are required to synchronize the terms of the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
Q4. Are there any challenges to implementing One Nation One Election in India?
Ans. Yes, challenges include logistical complexity, constitutional hurdles, and potential marginalization of regional issues.
Q5. How have other countries implemented One Nation One Election?
Ans. Countries like South Africa conduct simultaneous elections for national and provincial legislatures to streamline governance.
Q6. What is the proposed way forward for implementing simultaneous elections in India?
Ans. Forming a consensus among stakeholders, amending the Constitution, and developing robust logistical and administrative frameworks.
Q7. Can smaller political parties benefit from simultaneous elections?
Ans. Smaller parties may face challenges as national issues often overshadow regional agendas, favoring larger national parties.
© 2025 Vajiram & Ravi. All rights reserved