Opinion: Is One Nation, One Election necessary? understand one thing at a time

Avadhesh Kumar, New Delhi: Even at this time in our country, there would be very few people who believe that Lok Sabha and Assembly elections of all the states can be held within a fixed period in the coming few years. The commitment and readiness of the Modi government in this direction gives hope that the disturbed order of elections will come back on track. After the presentation of the ‘One Country One Election’ Bill in the Lok Sabha, there will definitely be a change in the thinking of those who considered it impractical and impossible till yesterday. Will come. However, only after the report of the 8-member committee constituted under the chairmanship of former President Ramnath Kovind, it should have been accepted that despite the criticism and apprehensions of the opponents, the Modi government will at all costs achieve its goal of holding simultaneous elections in the entire country. Wants.

Two Bills: The 129th Amendment Bill for One Country, One Election clearly mentions all the things that can make it happen. There are two bills in this. One Constitution Amendment Bill to hold simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies and the other to hold simultaneous elections for Union Territories. The decision on local body elections has been postponed for now.

If the government falls…: This question has been raised that what will happen if the government falls due to some reason? The answer is that if the Lok Sabha or the Legislative Assembly of any state is dissolved prematurely, elections will be held only for the remaining term. If the bills are passed, simultaneous elections will be held across the country from 2034. Those who have read the Kovind Committee report will be aware of these things. These bills are in accordance with that report. The committee constituted on September 2, 2023, after discussions with experts and all stakeholders, submitted a detailed report to President Draupadi Murmu on March 14, 2024.

Still with many places: The Kovind Committee had underlined and it is also true that assembly and Lok Sabha elections are held simultaneously in Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim. Assembly elections of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram are held slightly before the Lok Sabha elections. Similarly, assembly elections are being held in Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra and Jharkhand within 6 months of the end of the general elections. After this comes Delhi and Bihar. So 15 states will not face much problem by extending or reducing the tenure of their assembly.

Risk of instability: Those who have seen the instability of the 1990s and 2000s and the problems it created would certainly want ‘One Nation, One Election’. Although there has been stability in the states after 2010 and coalition governments at the Center have remained stable since 1999, but the situations before that are also in front of us. The danger of such instability still cannot be avoided.

Not united on public interest: Since there are always some elections going on, the emphasis of political parties is on maintaining public support. In such a situation, they do not unite on issues of national interest and public interest even if they want to. The entire country has to suffer its consequences. Anyway, till 1967 all the elections were held simultaneously. The victory of the opposition in 8 states in 1967, the rebellion and division within the Congress against the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the premature dissolution of the state governments by the Congress and the imposition of President’s rule and the holding of Lok Sabha elections in 1971, a year ahead of schedule, were completed. The electoral system derailed.

Distance from national interest: During the Emergency, the tenure of the Lok Sabha was extended by one year and the Janata Party government formed in 1977 fell in 1980. After this, there was a period of instability at different times from the Center to the states and India could not reach where it should be. The concerns of the political leadership became focused on how to remain in power. Due to this, such leaders and public representatives came across the country whose objective was not the national interest and the public interest. Is it okay to maintain this situation? For this reason we should support ‘one country, one election’.

Many countries have adopted: The Ramnath Kovind Committee studied the election processes of many countries before preparing the report. In South Africa, voting takes place simultaneously for the National Assembly and provincial legislature. Sweden adopts a proportional electoral system i.e. political parties are given seats in the elected assembly on the basis of their votes. Indonesia has been holding simultaneous elections since 2019. If so many countries can hold elections simultaneously then why can’t we?

The biggest question: How will the Modi government get these amendments passed in both the houses, because the opposition is strongly against it. The government has given special responsibility to its ministers to talk to the opposition. It should be expected that gradually the consent of most parties and leaders will be obtained. Politics should be done only in the national interest and public interest and this is the basic goal underlying it.

(The author is a senior journalist and thinker)