Wed Sep 18 14:12:52 UTC 2024: ## India Approves ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill: Simultaneous Polls for Lok Sabha & Assemblies
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal for conducting simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies across India, a move aimed at streamlining the electoral process. The bill, which will be tabled in Parliament during the winter session (November-December), will implement the ‘One Nation, One Election’ (ONOE) concept.
**Phased Implementation:**
The first phase of the ONOE will see simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, followed by simultaneous local body elections within 100 days. A committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, formed in September 2023, has proposed a phased implementation, with the first phase covering six states in November 2025 and the second phase encompassing 11 states in December 2026. All state assemblies would then have their terms expire in June 2029.
**Opposition Concerns & Support:**
While the BJP and its allies lauded the move as a historical step towards electoral reforms and economic growth, the opposition has expressed concerns. Opposition leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, and BSP chief Mayawati, raised apprehensions about the impact on democratic diversity and the potential for authoritarian tendencies.
**Expert Committee Recommendations:**
The Kovind Committee, which studied the electoral systems of seven countries, submitted an 18,626-page report to President Droupadi Murmu in March 2024. The report recommended aligning all assembly terms to 2029, requiring special elections in 25 states by December 2026.
**Historical Context:**
Simultaneous polls were held in India between 1952 and 1967. However, the practice was discontinued after premature dissolution of several state assemblies and the Lok Sabha in 1968-70. The Law Commission in 1999 had recommended separate elections for the Lok Sabha and Assemblies.
**The ‘One Nation, One Election’ concept aims to streamline the electoral process by:**
* Reducing the cost of elections.
* Minimizing the disruption to governance caused by frequent elections.
* Ensuring better utilization of security forces and resources.
The ONOE proposal is expected to face significant debate in Parliament, with the opposition likely to raise concerns over its implementation and potential impact on the democratic structure of the country.
First Piper 