The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 26th September 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

The Misplaced Move of ‘One Nation One Election’ 

Why in News?

Recently, the Union Cabinet approved a proposal for simultaneous elections across the country, aligning polls for the Lok Sabha, state Assemblies,  and local bodies across India.  The decision came after a high-level committee, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, submitted its report on the 'one nation, one election' plan. 

What are Key Recommendations of the Committee on Simultaneous Elections? 

The Constitution is proposed to be amended to facilitate simultaneous elections through two bills.

Bill 1: Simultaneous Elections for Lok Sabha and State Assemblies

• This bill aims to conduct simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies without requiring ratification by the states for the constitutional amendment.

Bill 2: Synchronization of Local Body Elections

• This bill proposes synchronizing elections for municipalities and panchayats with Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections, ensuring local body elections occur within 100 days of the larger elections.
• Unlike Bill 1, this bill requires ratification by at least half of the states.

Required Amendments for Simultaneous Elections

• The committee has recommended 15 amendments to the Constitution, focusing on key articles to facilitate simultaneous elections.

Article 82A: Establishing Simultaneous Elections

• A new Article 82A will be introduced to outline the process for transitioning to simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
• The amendment will expand Parliament's power under Article 327 to include the conduct of simultaneous elections.

Articles 83 and 172: Managing Unexpired Terms

• The committee suggests that under Articles 83(4) and 172(4), the Lok Sabha or State Assembly succeeding the previous one will only serve the remaining unexpired term before being dissolved for simultaneous elections.

Article 324A: Empowering Parliament for Local Body Elections

• A new Article 324A is proposed to empower Parliament to legislate for simultaneous elections of municipalities and panchayats with the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.

Single Electoral Roll and Election ID

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) will prepare a single electoral roll and election ID for all three tiers of elections in consultation with State Election Commissions (SEC).
• A constitutional amendment will be necessary to shift the power of SECs to ECI regarding electoral roll and election ID at the state level.

Hung Assembly or Premature Dissolution

• In cases of a hung House, no-confidence motion, or similar events, fresh elections will be conducted to constitute a new Lok Sabha or State Assembly for the unexpired term.

Meeting Logistics Requirements

• The Election Commission of India will plan and estimate logistics in advance, coordinating with State Election Commissions for manpower, polling personnel, security forces, EVMs/VVPATs, etc.

Synchronization of Elections

• To synchronize elections, the committee suggests that the President set an ‘Appointed Date’ through a notification on the first sitting of the Lok Sabha post-general elections.
• This date will mark the beginning of the new electoral cycle.
• Under the proposed Article 82A, all state assemblies elected in any general election after the "appointed date" will conclude at the end of the Lok Sabha's full term, regardless of their individual terms.

Example of Term Conclusion

• For instance, the next assembly elections in West Bengal (2026) and Karnataka (2028) would see these assemblies’ terms concluding in May or June 2029, aligning with the next Lok Sabha's term.

 What are Previous Recommendations on Simultaneous Elections? 

• Law Commission: The 21st Law Commission was established in 2018 and suggested that having elections at the same time could bring many advantages. These include saving costs for the public and reducing the pressure on administrative systems and security forces. 
•  In 1999, the Law Commission of India recommended holding elections for the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies together while looking for ways to improve the country's election system. 
•  The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice: In its 79th report, it suggested a different and workable way to conduct simultaneous elections. 
• NITI Aayog: A paper released by NITI Aayog in 2017 supported the idea of simultaneous elections to enhance governance by cutting down on frequent election cycles. 

What are Simultaneous Elections? 

• Simultaneous Elections refer to the process of conducting elections for the House of the People, all State Legislative Assemblies, and local bodies like Municipalities and Panchayats at the same time. 
•  This means voters can choose representatives for all levels of government on a single day. 
•  Currently, these elections are held separately, based on the individual schedules of each elected body. 
•  It is not necessary for all voting across the country to happen on the same day; elections can be held in phases. 
•  This concept is often called One Nation, One Election. 

History of Simultaneous Elections

• Simultaneous Elections were generally practiced until the fourth general elections in 1967. 
•  The practice ended as various central governments dismissed state governments before their terms finished, and coalition governments frequently collapsed. 
•  This disruption led to the current situation where India faces five to six elections every year. 
•  Including elections for Municipalities and Panchayats increases the total number of elections significantly. 

Reasons for Simultaneous Elections

 The need for simultaneous elections can be viewed from several angles, including cost, governance, administrative ease, and social unity. 

• Cost Reduction: Conducting general elections for the Lok Sabha costs around Rs 4,000 crore for the Central government, with state assembly elections also being costly depending on state size. 
•  Holding elections simultaneously could lower these overall expenses. 
• Campaign Mode: Political parties, including government Ministers, often stay in a constant campaign mode due to frequent state elections, which can disrupt effective policy-making and governance. 
• Model Code of Conduct: During the election period, lasting 45-60 days, new schemes or projects cannot be launched by the Central or State governments due to the Model Code of Conduct, which adversely affects governance. 
• Impact on Efficiency: The administrative system slows down during elections as the focus shifts to managing the electoral process, including the deployment of paramilitary forces from their regular duties. 
• Social Cohesion: High-stakes elections every year can lead to divisive campaigns, especially amplified by social media, which can increase societal divides in a diverse country. 
• Uncertainty in Economy: Staggered elections create instability, impacting supply chains, business investments, economic growth, and other areas. 
• Impact on Voters: Frequent elections can lead to "voter fatigue," making it hard to ensure voter participation. Simultaneous elections offer a chance to vote all at once. 

What Concerns are Associated with Simultaneous Elections? 

• Undermining Federal Spirit:
  • National political parties may have an edge over regional parties, which can weaken the idea of federalism.
  • Regional parties depend on local concerns and grassroots efforts, while national parties have greater resources and media reach.
  • Former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi criticized simultaneous elections for mixing up national and local issues, which can dilute federalism.
• Electoral Feedback:
  • Elections act as a way for governments to get feedback. Holding elections only once every five years might interrupt the important feedback needed for good governance.
• Premature Dissolutions:
  • If elections happen at the same time and the government loses its majority in the Lok Sabha, it raises the issue of whether new elections should be held in all states, even if the ruling party is strong in those states.
• Lengthy Constitutional Amendments:
  • Holding simultaneous elections would require changes to Articles 83, 85, 172, and 174 of the Constitution, which relate to the terms and dissolutions of the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
  • Changes would also be needed for Article 356, which permits the dissolution of State assemblies while under President’s rule.
• Voter Engagement:
  • Regional parties use personal approaches for engaging voters, like door-to-door visits, local gatherings, and small rallies.
  • In simultaneous elections, voters might be influenced more by corporate media and large, organized events.
  • A study indicated a 77% likelihood that voters would choose the same party in both elections when they are held together.

How to Address Concerns Associated with Simultaneous Elections? 

• The democratic nature of Indian governance means that politicians need to run for re-election when their term ends. This system prevents them from becoming "permanent members" of the legislature.
• This democratic structure ensures that politicians must answer to the public who voted for them, keeping them accountable.
• There are accountability mechanisms in place, such as the Council of Ministers being responsible to the legislature, and the judiciary playing a role in overseeing political actions.
• Therefore, holding frequent elections is not the only way, nor the most effective way, to make politicians accountable for their actions.
• Corruption is a concern since elections can be costly, and politicians may try to recover these expenses after getting elected. This can lead to corrupt practices and a growing black economy.
• Having simultaneous elections could help reduce corruption significantly by minimizing these costs.
• Looking at international examples, countries like South Africa, Sweden, and Germany have fixed terms for their legislatures.
• In South Africa, national and provincial elections occur at the same time every five years.
• Meanwhile, Sweden and Germany elect their Prime Minister and Chancellor every four years, respectively, with systems in place to deal with issues of lack of confidence without needing to call for early elections.

Conclusion 

Simultaneous elections offer potential benefits like reduced costs, administrative efficiency, and less disruption to governance. However, they also pose challenges, including constitutional amendments, logistical complexities, and concerns over federalism. Transformative measures often come with short-term difficulties, making them politically risky to implement. A balanced approach, involving stakeholder consultations and phased implementation, could address these concerns while realising the advantages of conducting elections concurrently across India. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ) 

Prelims 

Q.Which one of the following factors constitutes the best safeguard of liberty in a liberal democracy? (2021) 
(a) A committed judiciary 
(b) Centralization of powers 
(c) Elected government 
(d) Separation of powers 
Ans: (d) 

Q. Consider the following statements: (2021) 

1. In India, there is no law restricting the candidates from contesting in one Lok Sabha election from three constituencies.
2. In the 1991 Lok Sabha Election, Shri Devi Lal contested from three Lok Sabha constituencies.
3. As per the existing rules, if a candidate contests in one Lok Sabha election from many constituencies, his/her party should bear the cost of bye-elections to the constituencies vacated by him/her winning in all the constituencies.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 
(a) 1 only  
(b) 2 only 
(c) 1 and 3  
(d) 2 and 3 
Ans: (b)

Mains 

Q. Individual Parliamentarian’s role as the national law maker is on a decline, which in turn, has adversely impacted the quality of debates and their outcome. Discuss. (2019)

Q. “The local self-government system in India has not proved to be effective instrument of governance”. Critically examine the statement and give your views to improve the situation. (2017)