Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Simultaneous election; One Nation One Election;
Mains level: Federalism
Why in the News?
The Union Cabinet accepted the Kovind committee’s recommendations for simultaneous Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections, with municipal and panchayat polls within 100 days.
What are the recommendations given by the Kovind Panel?
- The panel recommended holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies as a first step, followed by municipal and panchayat polls within 100 days of the general election.
- The President would issue a notification setting an “Appointed Date” to mark the start of the new electoral cycle. All State Assemblies formed after this date would conclude their terms before the next general election.
- The panel recommended amendments to Article 83 (duration of Parliament) and Article 172 (duration of State Legislatures) to account for scenarios like a hung assembly or no-confidence motion.
- A single electoral roll for Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, and local bodies was proposed to streamline the election process, requiring coordination between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and State Election Commissions (SECs).
- The panel suggested 18 amendments to synchronize elections, most of which do not require ratification by State Assemblies but will require a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament.
Significance of Simultaneous Polls:
- Cost Efficiency: Holding simultaneous elections is expected to reduce the financial burden by cutting down on the repetitive cost of conducting separate elections.
- Increased Governance Efficiency: Simultaneous polls would allow governments to focus on governance rather than being in continuous election mode.
- Reduced Electoral Fatigue: Voters and political parties will face fewer disruptions caused by the constant election cycle, leading to more stable and efficient governance.
- Economic Benefits: By reducing the frequency of elections, resources can be allocated more effectively toward development and economic growth.
What do the critics say?
- Impracticality in a Federal Setup: Critics, including the Congress president, argue that simultaneous elections undermine federalism and the autonomy of State legislatures, which may need to dissolve at different times.
- Constitutional Hurdles: Critics emphasize that the changes required would demand significant amendments to the Constitution and may face legal and political challenges, including garnering the required majority in Parliament.
- Logistical Concerns: Managing elections for both national and local bodies across a large and diverse country like India would pose logistical difficulties.
- Impact on Democracy: Some fear that simultaneous polls may result in the overshadowing of local issues by national politics, potentially harming the representation of state-specific concerns.
Way forward:
- Consensus Building and Pilot Implementation: Gradually introduce simultaneous elections by building political consensus through consultations with state governments and stakeholders, and consider a phased implementation, starting with a few states as a pilot.
- Strengthening Electoral Framework: Enhance coordination between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and State Election Commissions (SECs), and ensure legal reforms such as the creation of a unified electoral roll and addressing potential challenges like a hung assembly through constitutional safeguards.
Mains PYQ:
Q ‘Simultaneous election to the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies will limit the amount of time and money spent in electioneering but it will reduce the government’s accountability to the people’ Discuss. (UPSC IAS/2017)
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: S.R. Bommai case
Mains level: potential consequences of One Nation, One Election
Central Idea:
The article discusses the formation and potential implications of the ‘High Level Committee on One Nation, One Election’ set up by the Union Government in September 2023. It delves into the reasons for and against the concept, focusing on the financial aspects and governance downtime. The author raises legal concerns, particularly regarding the constitutional autonomy of states, linguistic bias in consultations, and the role of the Election Commission. The looming possibility of a constitutional showdown in the Supreme Court is emphasized, drawing parallels with the U.S. case of Baker v. Carr.
Key Highlights:
- Formation of the ‘High Level Committee on One Nation, One Election’ chaired by former President Ramnath Kovind.
- Reasons supporting the concept include reducing election expenses and minimizing governance downtime caused by the Model Code of Conduct.
- Opposition argues that democratic processes, including elections and the Model Code of Conduct, are essential for a functioning democracy.
- Legal concerns raised, citing potential violation of state autonomy and constitutional provisions, particularly as stated in the S.R. Bommai case.
- The linguistic bias in consultations, with the committee’s website available only in English and Hindi, is highlighted.
- The Election Commission’s seemingly passive role and lack of involvement in the process are questioned.
Key Challenges:
- Constitutional and legal concerns regarding the potential alteration of the duration of State Legislative Assemblies.
- Linguistic bias in consultations, limiting the inclusivity of the decision-making process.
- Potential compromise of the Election Commission’s independence and autonomy.
- Balancing financial considerations with the fundamental principles of democracy.
- The challenge of ensuring a fair and unbiased decision-making process amid political interests.
Key Terms and Phrases:
- One Nation, One Election
- High Level Committee
- Model Code of Conduct
- S.R. Bommai case
- Constitutional autonomy
- Governance downtime
- Baker v. Carr moment
- Linguistic bias
- Election Commission
- Constitutional showdown
Key Quotes:
- “The cost of holding free and fair elections… is a price that can never be high.”
- “The introduction of a common election process would necessarily require alteration of the existing duration of a number of State Legislatures.”
- “Similar to demonetisation, when the Reserve Bank of India was kept in the dark, the Election Commission seems to be a silent spectator.”
Key Statements:
- “The Supreme Court would be called upon to determine the ultimate fate of Indian democracy.”
- “The potential alteration of the duration of State Legislatures would be anti-federal and unconstitutional.”
- “The stage is set for a constitutional showdown in the not-too-distant future.”
Key Examples and References:
- Baker v. Carr case in the U.S. as a reference for the potential role of the Supreme Court in a constitutional showdown.
- Comparison with demonetization to highlight concerns about the Election Commission’s apparent lack of involvement.
Key Facts and Data:
- The estimated cost of the 2014 general elections was ₹3,870 crore.
- The High Level Committee’s website is available only in English and Hindi.
Critical Analysis:
The article critically examines the potential consequences of One Nation, One Election, questioning its feasibility and highlighting legal and constitutional concerns. It underscores the importance of democratic processes and the need for the Supreme Court to play a pivotal role in preserving India’s constitutional architecture.
Way Forward:
- Ensure comprehensive and inclusive consultations in multiple languages to address linguistic bias.
- Strengthen the autonomy of the Election Commission and ensure its active participation in decision-making processes.
- Balance financial considerations with the preservation of democratic principles.
- Address legal concerns, particularly those related to state autonomy and constitutional provisions.
- Encourage public discourse to raise awareness and engage citizens in the decision-making process.
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: Election- Constitutional provisions
Mains level: One nation, one election plan, advantages and concerns and challenges and federalism
What’s the news?
- The Center has taken a significant step towards implementing the One Nation, One Election concept by forming a committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind.
Central idea
- The recently concluded special session of Parliament has brought into focus the idea of One Nation, One Election as a means to address the challenges posed by frequent elections in India. While this proposal has gained attention, it requires thorough examination and data-driven deliberation before any decisive steps are taken.
What is the ONOE plan?
- Concept: The ONOE plan aims to synchronize the timing of the Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections across all states in India to reduce the frequency of election cycles nationwide.
- Historical Context:
- After the enforcement of the Constitution on January 26, 1950, the first-ever general elections for both the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies occurred simultaneously in 1951–1952.
- This practice continued for the following three Lok Sabha elections until 1967, streamlining the election process.
- Disruption:
- In 1959, the cycle was disrupted as the Central government invoked Article 356 of the Constitution, leading to the dismissal of the Kerala government due to a perceived failure of constitutional machinery.
- Subsequent to 1960, defections and counter-defections among political parties led to the dissolution of several state legislative assemblies.
- This fragmentation resulted in separate election cycles for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
- Current Scenario: Presently, only specific states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha conduct their assembly polls concurrently with the Lok Sabha elections.
Critical analysis
Excessive Expenditure: A Questionable Concern
- Rising Election Costs: The cost of elections has been steadily increasing. In 2019, the expenditure for the general elections was about Rs 9,000 crore, averaging about Rs 100 per voter.
- Political Party Spending: Political parties spent nearly Rs 3,000 crore during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, with an estimated Rs 50,000 crore informally spent. Addressing this informal expenditure is a primary concern.
- Data-Driven Decision-Making: The absence of comprehensive data on total public expenditure for separate versus simultaneous elections limits our understanding. To make informed decisions, a meticulous analysis of costs and potential savings is imperative.
Diversion of Duty: A Matter of Debate
- Essential Responsibility: While election duty is considered essential for security forces, it’s also a privilege for civilian officials.
- Lack of Statistical Data: The absence of statistical data showing the exact number of days dedicated to election duties for simultaneous versus separate elections hinders informed decision-making.
Disruption in Development: A Misconception
- Model Code of Conduct (MCC): The MCC primarily restricts certain categories of public expenditure during elections, not all development work.
- Need for Data: The lack of data demonstrating the extent of disruption in development work is a crucial gap in the argument against simultaneous elections.
- Historical Perspective: Flexibility in Democracy
Historical context reveals flexibility in Indian democracy:
- 15 Years of Simultaneous Elections: From 1951–52 to 1967, elections were held simultaneously for 15 years without a specific constitutional provision.
- Preserving Political Freedom: Imposing limits on election timing could curb political parties’ freedom to express a lack of confidence or engage in democratic processes.
Local autonomy vs. centralization
- Local Impact: State-level elections primarily concern local voters and leaders and should not unduly affect voters in other states or the central government.
- Centralization of Politics: Centralized campaigning diminishes the focus on local governance, weakening local democratic institutions and representation.
Urgent Priorities for Reform
- Pressing Issues Abound: India faces a multitude of pressing issues, from natural disasters to public agitations. These challenges can disrupt normal governance and require immediate attention.
- Nature’s Fury: Natural disasters, such as heavy rainfall or hazardous air quality, often paralyze regions and demand swift government response to alleviate suffering and manage the aftermath.
- Educational Disruptions: Factors like heatwaves or international events like the G20 meetings can lead to the closure of educational institutions, affecting students’ routines and demanding educational policy adjustments.
- Protracted Agitations: Protests and agitations, sometimes lasting for months, can bring normal life to a standstill, necessitating government intervention and resolution.
- Meaningful Electoral Reforms: Rather than focusing on the mechanical scheduling of elections, there is an urgent need for more substantial electoral reforms that enhance transparency and accountability.
- Managerial Efficiency: Improving the efficiency of election management can be achieved without the need for onerous constitutional amendments.
Conclusion
- The proposal for ONOE is intriguing but lacks the necessary data and robust debate to support its implementation. India should prioritize addressing more pressing governance issues and electoral reforms that enhance transparency.
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: One Nation, One Election
Mains level: Not Much
Central Idea
- The Centre has taken a significant step towards implementing the “One Nation, One Election” concept by forming a committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind.
- This concept aims to synchronize elections across different levels of governance, with the intent of boosting efficiency and governance.
- The committee’s primary role is to draft the necessary legislative framework for the successful implementation of the concept.
One Nation, One Election: Background and Rationale
- The frequent occurrence of elections disrupts the continuity of developmental activities due to adherence to election-related codes and rules.
- The Prime Minister has been a vocal advocate of simultaneous elections as a solution to this issue.
- The core idea is to streamline elections across various tiers of government, thereby reducing administrative complexities.
Nature of Simultaneous Elections
- Presently, India conducts separate elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, leading to staggered electoral cycles.
- The “One Nation, One Election” approach envisions holding elections for all state assemblies and the Lok Sabha simultaneously.
Historical Context and Shifting Trends
- In the initial decades after independence, India witnessed concurrent elections.
- This trend shifted with the untimely dissolution of the fourth Lok Sabha in 1971, which marked the decline of simultaneous elections.
- The dissolution of the Lok Sabha during the National Emergency declared in 1975 and the dissolution of state assemblies after the 1977 Lok Sabha election further disrupted this cycle.
Challenges and Necessary Constitutional Amendments
- A significant challenge lies in aligning the terms of the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies.
- Amendments to relevant articles of the Constitution, such as Article 83 for the Lok Sabha and Article 172(1) for Legislative Assemblies, may be required to enable synchronized elections.
Efficiency and Governance Benefits
Simultaneous elections offer several benefits:
- Reduction in effort, time, and expenditure due to consolidated election cycles.
- Mitigation of governance disruptions caused by the Model Code of Conduct during elections.
- Streamlined campaign expenses, potentially leading to cost savings.
- Improved voter turnout and enhanced credibility of the electoral process.
Challenges and Counterarguments
- Challenges include synchronizing terms, preventing mid-term dissolutions, and addressing the costs associated with electronic voting machines (EVMs).
- Counterarguments raise concerns about influencing voter choices, potential erosion of government accountability, and implications for democratic principles and federalism.
Ensuring Effective Implementation
- Robust legal safeguards are essential to address the challenge of mid-term dissolutions and maintain the integrity of synchronized elections.
- Some countries employ mechanisms like “no-confidence motions” to ensure governance continuity during the synchronized cycle.
Conclusion
- The “One Nation, One Election” initiative holds the potential to streamline India’s electoral process and enhance governance efficiency.
- Overcoming challenges requires a comprehensive approach along with suitable legal provisions, making the concept a practical reality while preserving democratic principles and federalism.
