One Nation, One Election - Constitutional Feasibility And Implementation Challenges
- IJLLR Journal
- Jun 24
- 1 min read
Adithya S.M., B.B.A.LL.B., Alliance School of Law, Alliance University
1. ABSTRACT
India, also known as Bharat, is the world’s largest democracy. This democratic framework thrives on the vitality of its electoral process, which has evolved from ballot paper to Electronic Voting machines (EVM’s) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATS), Elections here are also considered the world's largest democratic festival enabling citizens to elect their representatives actively. Since its Independence, India has held over 400 elections, from Lok Sabha to state elections, which are frequent and fragmented, though, which has raised the debate about the need for a more effective system. Consequently, there is now renewed interest in the idea of "One Nation, One Election," which means synchronizing elections throughout the country at the same time for the Lok Sabha and states. Entry 72 of List I powers the parliament to make laws regarding elections of Parliament and state legislature1 (High-Level Committee, 2024). The main reason for the concept and debate to spark is that the frequent elections hold the implementation of policies, Cost efficiency with frequent governance, etc., however, there are also challenges such as constitutional amendments, consent of the parties, and many other challenges to be faced. This study aims to determine whether this reform is a necessary step towards strengthening Indian democracy or if it poses risks that could undermine its federal structure.
