One Nation One Election

One Nation One Election (ONOE) in India has both pros and cons.

Let's understand the concept of One Nation One Election.

One election was in the practice till 1967 in India, but it was discontinued due to various reasons such as defections, dismissals, and dissolution of governments. But, the cycle was first broken in 1959 after the Centre invoked Article 356 to dismiss the then-Kerala government.

Pros:  1) Efficiency: - ONOE can streamline the election process, reducing the frequency of elections and enhancing efficiency and  saving time and resources of the public. The same electoral rolls can be used for all the elections.This will save a tremendous amount of time and money spent in updating electoral rolls.

2) Stability: - With simultaneous elections, there would be fewer disruptions in governance as the focus will shift on work rather than election campaigning.
3) Continuity in Policy Making : The Model Code of Conduct comes to play just after the elections are announced by the Election Commission. No new policy decisions are taken during elections due to the MCC and  key policy decisions get delayed both at the Centre and in the states and local bodies.
4) Cost Reduction: - According to a report, during 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, Rs 60, 000 Crores were spent .Conducting elections simultaneously can drastically reduce this overall cost incurred by the government, political parties, and the public. so it will be a win win situation for all.
4) Increased Voter Turnout: -  With fewer elections, voters may be more engaged and turnout can increase significantly as it save voter time and energy.
5) End of Horse Trading: Holding elections simultaneously can potentially reduce horse-trading by elected representatives, which remains a concern even with anti-defection law.  Holding elections at fixed intervals can make it harder for them to switch parties or form alliances for personal gains.

Cons: 1) Violation of Federalism:-  India is a diverse country so states have their own political dynamics, and simultaneous elections may undermine the autonomy and diversity of regional political processes. 

2) Dominance of National Issues: - National issues will overshadow local and regional issues during synchronised elections, leading to the neglect of important regional problems.
3) Logistical Challenges: - Conducting elections simultaneously presents significant logistical challenges, including security arrangements, manpower, and infrastructure.
4) Dominance of Central Parties : - Simultaneous elections might strengthen the dominance of national parties over regional ones and may lead to a more centralized political landscape.

The Biggest Challenge associated with ONOE:

Feasibility: - Article 83(2) and 172 of the Constitution stipulates that the tenure of Lok Sabha and State Assemblies respectively will last for five years unless dissolved earlier and there can be situations, as in Article 356, wherein assemblies can be dissolved earlier. Therefore, the ONOE plan raises some questions: What would happen if the Central or State government collapses mid-tenure? Would elections be held again in every State or will the President’s rule be imposed? Is a serious questions to be shorted before going for ONOE.

Conclusion :-  One Nation One Election aims to streamline the electoral process and reduce time and costs involved but  it also raises concerns about federalism, logistical challenges, and the concentration of political power. However, the stage at which a developing country like India is presently that has committed to be developed by 2047, the ONOE must be implemented by discussing all issues with all stakeholders and decision must be taken responsibly.