The central government, on Wednesday, advanced the ‘One Nation, One Election’ plan by accepting the recommendations of a high-level committee. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the decision as a significant step towards making Indian democracy more active and participatory. Under this plan, elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies will be held simultaneously across the country.
Political Consensus and Support
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw mentioned that several political parties are already in agreement on this issue, and growing public support may pressure opposition parties to change their stance. A committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind proposed these recommendations, and an implementation group will be formed based on them. In the coming months, there will be extensive discussions on the matter across various platforms nationwide.
Phased Implementation and Legal Process
The ‘One Nation, One Election’ plan will be implemented in phases. In the first phase, elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies will be conducted together, while in the second phase, elections for local bodies will follow within 100 days. The committee also recommended a unified voter list and voter ID, to be coordinated between the Election Commission of India and state election authorities.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the government aims to implement the ‘One Nation, One Election’ plan within this term. For this, constitutional amendment bills will be required, some needing parliamentary approval, while others will need the consent of state legislatures.
Historical Context and Future Challenges
From 1951 to 1967, simultaneous elections were held in India. However, this system broke down due to mid-term elections and other reasons. To reintroduce this system, some elections will have to be rescheduled. The committee has recommended fully implementing this system by 2029, with the Lok Sabha, state assembly, and local body elections held together.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a strong advocate of this idea, and the government is now moving swiftly to take the necessary legal and constitutional steps for its implementation.
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