One Nation One Election In India: Addressing The Challenges & Way Forward

Kartikey Bajpai, Research Scholar, Department of Law, School of Legal Studies, BBAU, Lucknow

ABSTRACT

This Article attempts to explore the idea of ‘One Nation One Election’ or ‘Simultaneous Election’ in India and its meaning, history, favorable and opposing arguments, the desirable balance, concerns of the parties not in support of the idea and finding a way forward that can accommodate these concerns and take an approach without creating a trust deficit in the political world.

Firstly, the author try to explain the concept and exactly what the proponents of the idea mean when they say that India needs ‘One Nation One Election’; does it mean that all the elections that are conducted in India or some particular elections only come within its purview?

Secondly, I trace the History of the Indian Electoral system to understand whether this demand is for a new change in Indian politics or something we originally had and got diverted from, in the case of the latter when and how these elections became Asynchronous.

Thirdly, I try to explore some foreign nation’s approaches regarding simultaneous elections such as USA and UK from where we are significantly influenced in our political system.

Fourthly, I delve deep into the favourable and opposing arguments and try to critically analyze the merit in them.

Fifthly, I suggest the approach that needs to be taken to deal with the issue and the steps that need to be taken to adopt this policy successfully along with the necessary amendments in the Constitution of India and supporting statutes.

Keywords: Election, India, Simultaneous