With the occurance of many new changes and amendments that are taking place within the jurisdictions of the BJP leadership, another proposed idea is of one nation one election (ONOE). The initiative is a step forward to regulate the election processes of lok sabha and state assemblies. On 12th December 2024, the union cabinet approved the ONOE Bill which will be further applicable to urban local body and panchayats too.
Many discussions about the recurring elections that takes place throughout the year emphasized the need of this” one nation one election”. Many key observations were being taken during this process and majority of the people were of the favor that elections should not take place again and again as it includes heavy expenses to conduct an election.
The proposed legislation, formally known as the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to amend key provisions in the Constitution to allow simultaneous elections. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is likely to present the bill in the Lok Sabha. Once introduced, it is expected to be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for wider consultations. The committee, chaired by a BJP member, will have 90 days to review and make recommendations.
Demerits of Recurring Elections
- According to a report conducting an election requires approximately 4000 crore of expenditure which a huge amount and could be used in other developmental activities. Multiple elections will require multiple amount from the government which is ultimately the hard earned money of the taxpayers of our country.
- All government employees are being allotted election duty , which this time also included the bank PSU’s. Banks are already being over burdened by the work load and now a days the bank employees also have to serve the election duty by which the economy suffers a lot.
- Government machinery stops working completely. Implementation of any kind of schemes or any other thing don’t take place during the elections
- Security and police forces are diverted from their duties to maintain law and order at the election centers.
- Government vacancies and recruitment process come to a pause as they can’t be resumed till the elections are over. Many candidates face the problems of being age bar, time consuming and the future of many youth suffers.
- Illegal cash distribution and other objectionable activities takes places before elections that breaks the law and order of the city.
Advantages of ONOE
The One Nation, One Election (ONOE) initiative has several potential advantages that could positively impact India’s political and administrative systems. These include:
1. Cost and Resource Efficiency
- Reduced Election Expenditure: Conducting simultaneous elections can significantly reduce the costs incurred in organizing polls repeatedly across the country. Expenses on security, logistics, polling materials, and administrative processes would be streamlined.
2. Improved Voter Participation
- Higher Voter Turnout: Combining elections could encourage greater voter participation by reducing voter fatigue caused by frequent polls.
3. Enhanced Administrative Efficiency
- Streamlined Election Management: A unified election process would simplify logistics, reduce the workload on election machinery, and allow authorities to focus on one comprehensive poll
4. Stable Governance and Policy-Making
- Reduced Political Instability: Frequent elections often lead to shifts in government priorities and political instability. ONOE would help maintain continuity in governance
5. Greater Accountability of Politicians
- Unified Mandate: Simultaneous elections would provide a clearer and more cohesive mandate for both state and central governments, reducing conflicts between the two
7. Strengthened Democracy
- Unified National Perspective: Simultaneous elections may encourage citizens to view national and state issues cohesively, fostering a more unified democratic process.
- Reduction in Electoral Malpractices: Streamlined and concentrated efforts to ensure free and fair elections could reduce malpractices during polls.
8. Historical Precedent
- Between 1952 and 1967, India conducted simultaneous elections successfully. The return to this system could bring back the benefits experienced during that era.
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