Does the government have the numbers in Parliament? The path to ‘One Nation, One Election’ is not easy, know what are the challenges

New Delhi: The Modi cabinet has approved the proposal of ‘One Nation One Election’. This proposal suggests holding elections of Lok Sabha, state assemblies and local bodies simultaneously. This proposal is based on the recommendations of the high level committee headed by former President Ramnath Kovind. The main opposition party of the country, Congress, is calling it a hoax. Other opposition parties are also not calling this initiative of the Modi government practical. Everyone is wondering whether it will be easy for the Modi government to implement ‘One Nation, One Election’? Let us know what major obstacles can come in the way of this proposal.

How many political parties are in opposition?

The government has taken this step accepting the recommendations of the committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind. Earlier this year, 47 political parties shared their opinion about holding simultaneous elections with the Kovind committee. Of these, 32 parties supported the idea, while 15 opposed it. According to media reports, NDA ally Telugu Desam Party has supported it in principle. All the 32 parties that supported the move before the committee were either allies of the BJP or were friendly towards the party. However, BJD has left the BJP. Of the 15 parties that opposed the move before the committee, 5 are parties outside the NDA, including Congress.

Need for amendments in the constitution

The Kovind Committee has suggested some necessary changes for holding simultaneous elections. The committee says that amendments will have to be made in the Constitution, for which approval of the Parliament is necessary. Along with this, consent will also have to be taken from the Legislative Assemblies of most of the states to prepare a list of all voters.
Article 368(2) provides for the manner in which the Constitution is amended: ‘An amendment of this Constitution may be initiated only by the introduction in either House of Parliament of a Bill for the purpose and when the Bill has been passed by each House by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of that House present and voting, it shall be presented to the President who shall give his/her assent to the Bill and the Constitution shall stand amended accordingly in accordance with the provisions of the Bill.’

Will the bill survive in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha?

A two-third majority is required to pass any constitutional amendment in the Lok Sabha. This means that the support of two-thirds of the members present and voting is necessary. If all 543 MPs are present, then the support of 362 MPs is required. At present, the opposition alliance ‘India’ has 234 MPs. For constitutional amendment, a simple majority as well as a special majority is necessary. This means that to pass the amendment, the ruling party will need the support of the opposition as well. On the other hand, the NDA has 113 MPs in the Rajya Sabha and 6 nominated members support them. The ‘India’ alliance has 85 MPs. If all the MPs come to vote, then 164 votes will be required for a two-thirds majority. Approval of state assemblies is also necessary for some constitutional changes. If all the members are present in the Rajya Sabha, then the total number will be 164.

One Nation, One Election: Two amendments will have to be made in the Constitution, will the Modi government be able to do this?

How will the government handle the election confusion?

It is not easy to hold simultaneous elections across the country. Lok Sabha elections were held in May-June this year, while states like Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh also held assembly elections along with parliamentary elections. Assembly elections are in the process in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana, while Maharashtra and Jharkhand are also scheduled to go to polls later this year. Delhi and Bihar are among the states where elections are due in 2025. The term of the current assemblies in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry will end in 2026. While the term of Goa, Gujarat, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand assemblies will end in 2027. The term of state assemblies in Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Telangana will end in 2028. The term of the current Lok Sabha and the assemblies of the states that went to polls this year will end in 2029.

Will the government be able to bring the opposition parties together?

The success of the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative depends on the passage of two Constitution Amendment Bills in Parliament, which will require widespread support from various political parties. Since the BJP does not have a majority on its own in the Lok Sabha, it will have to bring together not only its NDA allies but also opposition parties. The Janata Dal (United), a key constituent of the NDA, welcomed the Union Cabinet’s decision, saying such a move would free the country from frequent elections, reduce the burden on the exchequer and bring policy continuity. JD(U) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said ‘One Nation, One Election’ would have far-reaching consequences and would benefit the country immensely. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said simultaneous elections are not practical and alleged that the BJP makes such statements to divert attention from real issues when elections are near.

Know what method the government has

According to the Indian Express report, one way to build the necessary consensus is to send the amendment bills to a parliamentary committee, such as a standing committee or a joint parliamentary committee. These committees include opposition members and discussions there can lead to a consensus. The Centre will also have to involve the states. For simultaneous elections to local bodies to be part of the plan, at least half the states will have to ratify the required constitutional amendment. Though the BJP currently rules more than a dozen states, the upcoming assembly elections in Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand could change the political balance.

Elections have been held together before

India has had simultaneous elections in the past between 1951 and 1967. The trend peaked in 1967 when 20 states held assembly elections simultaneously with Lok Sabha elections. The number fell to 17 in 1977, while 14 states held simultaneous elections in 1980 and 1985. Thereafter, elections began to be held at different times for a variety of reasons, including mid-term polls.