The 'One Nation, One Election' is back on the political agenda in Parliament as a bill to amend the constitution was tabled in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.
Earlier, the cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the report of the Ram Nath Kovind Committee on One Country One Election in September. It's noteworthy that, according to the recommendations, the implementation of One Nation One Election can only happen after 2029.
What Is One Nation, One Election?
The government's 'One Nation, One Election' push proposes simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, with urban body and panchayat polls to be held within 100 days.
ONOE would require a common electoral roll for all elections. The cabinet note reads that the government will initiate detailed discussions throughout the country and constitute an implementation group.
Constitutional Amendments Needed
The challenge for the NDA government will be passing the bills on One Nation One Election in the Parliament as as a constitutional amendment will be required. This will require a two-thirds majority. Currently, the NDA has a simple majority in both the Houses.
Implementing the simultaneous elections plan will require around 18 constitutional amendments, according to political strategist Amitabh Tiwari.
Earlier, BJP ministers have said they want to build consensus among all parties even as opposition leaders have flagged concerns over the government's intentions.
A constitutional amendment will also require the consent of a majority of states.
The NDA holds 112 out of 245 seats in the Rajya Sabha, while opposition parties have 85. To secure a two-thirds majority, the government needs at least 164 votes. In the Lok Sabha, the BJP-led coalition has 292 out of 545 seats, with the two-thirds majority mark set at 364.
Impact On Economy
The Kovind report noted that the past periods of simultaneous elections led to higher economic growth, lower inflation, and increased investments.
The report estimated that holding simultaneous elections could raise GDP growth by up to 1.5 percentage points. This means about Rs 4.5 lakh crore, which covers half of the government’s public spending on health and one-third of its spending on education in the fiscal 2023-24.
The central fiscal deficit tends to rise more after simultaneous elections than after non-simultaneous elections, according to the Kovind report. On average, the fiscal deficit can be 1.28 percentage points of GDP higher following simultaneous elections, the report noted.
The Kovind report highlights that the tendency to incur revenue expenditure, such as “freebies,” has significant consequences. Frequent election cycles can lead to relatively poorer long-term decisions, it added.
Election cycles also have a potentially significant impact on investments and inflows. According to the Kovind report, frequent elections can not only directly disrupt activity but also indirectly affect the economy through greater uncertainty, causing spillovers for private investment.
A significant increase in the number of days under the model code of conduct can also directly reduce public expenditures and investment, it pointed out.
Where Political Parties Stand
On Tuesday, after electronic voting, the bills to hold simultaneous elections were introduced in Lok Sabha with 269 members in favour and 198 against it.
When the Kovind panel sought opinion from political parties during its consultation process, 32 parties supported the idea and 15 opposed it.
Only three national parties—Bharatiya Janata Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, and the National People’s Party—are in support of simultaneous polls. NDA constituents Shiv Sena, All Jharkhand Students’ Union, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, and other regional parties are also reportedly in support of the move. Former BJP allies Akali Dal and AIADMK also favoured One Nation, One Election.
The Congress, Left parties including CPI(M), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and Shiv Sena (UBT), among many others are opposed to simultaneous elections.
Views On One Nation, One Election
The ONOE is two-pronged. According to former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi it is logistically a good idea but bad for federalism and constitutionalism. However, former CEC Om Prakash Rawat disagreed on the feasibility of the scheme with regard to voter turnout in the Panchayati Raj elections.
Speaking to NDTV Profit, Quraishi expressed concern regarding local issues getting subjugated by national interests and national concerns. "It is logistically a good idea, but federally, constitutionally, a bad idea."
Holding an election after 100 days is a new election due to it requiring separate arrangements. This will imply that the constitutional rights of such voters would be encroached on, Quraishi said, seeing no sincerity in the idea of simultaneous elections.
Rawat, the 27th CEC, disagreed with the notion that holding Panchayati Raj elections after 100 days would alienate and discourage voters from coming back to vote again for them.
"Local elections are very contentious, and people are very involved in these elections," he said. "They'll come back, because for them, the elections are more important than legislative and parliamentary elections."
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