Deepak Dwivedi
THE ‘One Nation One Election,’ Bill has finally been introduced in the winter session of Parliament and referred to a Joint Standing Committee. The BJP has been talking about it for long but introduced it only after it was voted to power with its NDA allies for the third time. The long-awaited Bill aims to streamline the electoral process for 28 states and eight UTs, with an electorate of nearly a billion. The Bill has triggered widespread debate and significant interest.
Though the momentum for simultaneous elections has been building for some time, the Government displayed its intention for a legislation on the issue only after a nine-member high powered committee endorsed the concept. Headed by former President Ram Nath Kovid, the committee held consultations with all stakeholders before submitting its report. Experts on law, such as four former CJI and twelve former Chief Justices of High Courts, four former CECs, eight state Election Commissioners, and the Chairman of the Law Commission of India were consulted.
The views of the present Election commissioner were also sought. Of the 47 political parties that participated, 32 supported simultaneous elections. In response to a public notice published in newspapers in all the states and Union territories, 21,558 responses were received from citizens from all over India, of which 80 per cent supported simultaneous elections. Over the years, elections have become a standard feature, but the ONOE Bill has the potential to reshape the election process.
Proponents of the Bill argue that it could significantly reduce campaign costs, alleviate strain on administrative resources, and streamline governance. This could ultimately benefit the public by reducing the frequency of elections, reducing the periods of Model Code of Conduct during which the governance is virtually paralysed, and saving the enormous cost of elections.
Historically, elections to Parliament and State Assemblies were synchronised from 1952 to 1967. The premature dismissal of various governments and the consequential dissolution of Assemblies led to staggered polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s main challenge is to gather enough support in Parliament. At the same time, the Government must build political consensus and persuade the Opposition to agree. A legal framework for simultaneous elections is essential to address mid-term Government collapses and control political manoeuvring.
Now that the Bill has been sent to a joint select committee, we must wait for its report. Despite potential delays, it’s important to debate the Bill, as election spending ultimately comes from taxpayers’ pockets. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has said that the ‘One Nation, One Election’ idea is “practical and important”, and will be discussed at the first meeting of the JPC, scheduled for January 8.
The ONOE has been one of the election promises of the BJP. Most of the earlier promises of the party, such as the revocation of Article 370 and the building of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, have already been fulfilled. In his third term, PM Modi wants to finish the unfinished agenda. He introduced this legislation with a clear strategy: whether he succeeds or not, he benefits. If the Bill gets passed, it will be a victory for the BJP Government; if it doesn’t the PM can claim that he tried to enact a major reform but faced Opposition obstruction.
