Union Cabinet approves ‘One Nation, One Election Bill’: What is it and why does the opposition call it ‘impractical’ and ‘draconian’? , peppermint

The Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill to be introduced in Parliament in the ongoing winter session of Parliament.

This bill, which paves the way for unified elections across the country, has been on the agenda of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for a long time. In fact, quoting sources, there have been reports of this bill getting approval from the Union Cabinet earlier also.

A report in September said that the Modi government has approved the implementation of ‘One Nation, One Election’ to hold simultaneous elections in the country.

Today’s ‘nth approval’, as one political analyst called it on LinkedIn, is significant as it comes in the midst of the ongoing winter session of Parliament. According to reports from agencies, the Modi government wants to introduce the bill in the current session before sending it to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further scrutiny.

The winter session of Parliament, which started from 25 November, will continue till 20 December.

What is ‘One Nation, One Election’?

If implemented, Lok Sabha, Assembly and local body (urban or rural) elections will be held in the same year, if not at the same time.

The high-level panel headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind had submitted the report in March before the announcement of Lok Sabha elections 2024. The panel said in the report that simultaneous elections ‘could alter the electoral process’.

The first step is to hold Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously. Local body elections will be held within 100 days, the panel recommended. The panel also made suggestions in the event of premature dissolution of the Assembly or even the Lok Sabha, in the event of defection or a hung election.

What next?

Since the Modi Cabinet has also approved the panel report and the proposed bill, it was reported on Thursday, the Center will now table the legislation before Parliament.

Two bills – one relating to Lok Sabha and Assembly elections and the other relating to municipal and panchayat elections – must be passed by Parliament.

The Kovind panel had recommended an amendment to the Constitution to allow simultaneous elections in two phases: simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Elections to municipalities and Panchayats shall be coordinated with those to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies in such a manner that municipal and Panchayat elections are held within hundred days of the holding of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

The panel also recommended amendments to the Constitution to enable the Election Commission of India to prepare a single electoral roll and EPIC in consultation with the State Election Commissions. These amendments would require ratification by at least half the states.

At least five articles of the Constitution should be amended to ensure smooth implementation of the ‘One Nation, One Election’ scheme. Getting these amendments passed in Parliament may prove challenging for the government.

BJP’s emphasis

Since coming to power in 2014, the BJP has been insisting on holding simultaneous elections. NITI Aayog supported the proposal in 2017 and the next year then President Ram Nath Kovind mentioned it in his address to the joint session of Parliament.

In August 2018, the Law Commission released a draft report examining the legal-constitutional aspects. In his Independence Day speech in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated the need to hold simultaneous elections.

In fact, holding simultaneous elections has been in the party’s 2014 and 2019 election manifestos. “The BJP will try to evolve a methodology for holding simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha elections through consultation with other parties. Apart from reducing election expenses for both political parties and the government, it will ensure some stability for state governments. We will also consider revising the expenditure limit realistically,” read the BJP’s 2014 manifesto.

arguments in favor

The argument in favor of simultaneous elections is that it will ensure ease and convenience for voters, avoid voter fatigue and result in higher turnout. Additionally, holding elections simultaneously at all three levels of government will avoid disruption in the supply chain and production cycle due to migrant workers seeking leave to cast their votes and will also reduce the financial burden on the government exchequer.

Those supporting it say that frequent elections put a burden on the government treasury. The frequent use of government officials and security forces adversely impacts the discharge of their duties and the repeated imposition of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) leads to policy paralysis and slows down the pace of development programmes.

The opposition says, “Impractical, harsh.”

This proposal could not be implemented due to opposition from opposition parties. The Congress party has described this bill as ‘against the basic structure of democracy and the Constitution’.

On 12 December, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief, Arvind Kejriwal criticized the BJP for its ‘wrong’ priorities. “The country needs one nation, one education, one nation, one healthcare system, not one nation, one election. BJP’s wrong priorities,” Kejriwal said in a post on X.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also expressed his opposition, terming the proposal as ‘draconian’ and ‘anti-democracy’.

“The Union Cabinet has approved the introduction of the stringent ‘One Nation, One Election Bill’ in Parliament. This impractical and undemocratic move will erase regional voices, destroy federalism and disrupt governance. Wake up #India! Let us oppose this attack on Indian democracy with all our might,” Stalin said.

The opposition’s argument against the proposal is that it will marginalize regional players (parties). He says that this will bring uniformity in political discussion and it will become difficult for small parties and states to present their views before the country.

The first four general elections in India included simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. At that time the Congress Party was in power at both the national and state levels. So it was possible till the fourth general election in 1967.

Later, due to Congress holding the Lok Sabha elections ahead of schedule, separate elections were held. As of now, Lok Sabha elections coincide with assembly elections in four states – Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.