One Nation, One Election – A Policy Of New India
- IJLLR Journal
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Tarun, RGSOIPL, IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal
ABSTRACT
Elections form the cornerstone of democracy in India, ensuring representation through periodic participation of the people in the decision- making process. The responsibility of conducting elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and State Legislatures (both Vidhan Sabha and Vidhan Parishad) lies within the ambit of The Election Commission of India, which is an autonomous constitutional body established under Article 324 of the Indian Constitution. At the grassroots level, elections to panchayats and municipalities are conducted by the State Election Commissions (Hereafter SEC) as per (Osmania University, 2024-08-31) provisions of Article 243K and 243ZA, introduced through the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments.
In a country where elections are held almost every year across different states, the idea of One Nation, One Election (hereafter ONOE) has emerged as a subject of intense debate. The concept of ONOE envisions simultaneous elections across the country for the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, and local bodies (or combination of any two). Advocates of the idea argue that this unified approach could strengthen governance by minimizing the interference caused by continuous elections. It is believed that aligning elections could help governments shift their focus from short- term populist measures to long-term policy development, while also substantially reducing the financial and administrative burden of repeated electoral exercises.
Yet, this proposal has ignited sharp debate, particularly concerning its impact on India's federal structure, political diversity, and regional representation. The issue has regained prominence with the submission of a detailed report by the High-Level Committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which has revived discussions around the practicality, benefits, and constitutional challenges of implementing One Nation, One Election.
