Thu Dec 12 20:23:30 UTC 2024: ## India Moves to Implement “One Nation, One Election”
**New Delhi** – The Indian cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a bill Thursday aimed at holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament), state legislative assemblies, and local bodies. This follows a recommendation from a high-level committee, headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which studied the electoral processes of seven countries – South Africa, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines – all of which currently hold simultaneous elections.
The Kovind committee’s report, submitted to President Droupadi Murmu in March, proposed a phased approach, starting with simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly elections, followed by local body elections within 100 days. The bill is expected to be introduced in the upcoming winter session of Parliament. Passage would require constitutional amendments to Articles 83 and 172.
While India held simultaneous elections for the first four general elections after independence, the practice was discontinued. The Kovind committee’s study aimed to identify best practices for ensuring fairness and transparency in a nationwide simultaneous election. The committee’s report highlighted potential benefits including reduced election expenditure and enhanced administrative and political stability.
However, the proposal faces significant opposition. The opposition INDIA alliance has voiced concerns, with leaders describing the plan as impractical, undemocratic, and potentially suppressive of regional voices. Specific concerns include the potential disruption to state legislative sessions and the immense logistical challenges involved in managing such a large-scale election. The Congress party has vowed to oppose the bill and demand its referral to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). The bill’s passage is far from certain, given the need for a large majority in both houses of parliament and the potential for internal disagreements within the ruling NDA coalition. Legal challenges in the Supreme Court are also anticipated, given the potential impact on the country’s fundamental constitutional framework.
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