The Union Cabinet has approved the government’s ‘one nation, one election’ push – which proposes simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, with urban body and panchayat polls to be held within 100 days – accepting the report of a panel led by ex-President Ram Nath Kovind.
The proposal will now be tabled in Parliament and must clear both Houses – the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha – en route to becoming the law. More significantly, as it will require an amendment to the Constitution and that amendment has to be ratified by all states and union territories.
Holding simultaneous poll will “transform the electoral process (and) governance” and “optimise scarce resources”, the high-profile panel said, noting 32 parties and prominent judicial figures, including former Supreme Court Chief Justices and High Court judges, had backed this measure.
Among the panel’s listed advantages for the ‘one nation, one election’ measure are that it makes the electoral process easier for voters. Synchronising polls will also result in higher and faster economic growth, and therefore a more stable economy, the panel argued, claiming a single round of elections will allow businesses and corporate firms to take decisions without fear of adverse policy changes.
The panel has also reasoned that (eventually) holding elections at all three levels – for the Lok Sabha, for state Assemblies, and for panchayats – will “avoid disruption of supply chains and production cycles due to migrant workers seeking leave of absence to cast their votes”.
The ‘one nation, one election’ push will also “prevent policy paralysis”, and do away with the “atmosphere of uncertainty” the government argues is brought on by frequent elections.
The panel, which submitted its report in March, also said it had studied “best practices from other countries”, and consulted economists and the Election Commission, before delivering its verdict, but also called for a legally sustainable mechanism to break and re-align existing electoral cycles.
However, 15 parties, including the Congress, have opposed the ‘one nation, one election’ push.
The Congress has said this proposal is “not pragmatic and practical”. Party boss Mallikarjun Kharge, while releasing the party’s manifesto for next month’s Haryana election, called it “an attempt to divert the attention of the public”. “This is not going to succeed… the people will not accept it.”
