“One Nation, One Election”
With the approval of a proposal for simultaneous elections nationwide
and the report submitted by a high-level committee chaired by former
President Ram Nath Kovind, the idea of "One Nation, One
Election(ONOE)" is now talk of the nation. One Nation, One Election
(ONOE) is a proposal to hold elections for the Lok Sabha, State
Assemblies, and possibly local bodies like municipalities and panchayats
simultaneously across India. This idea has gained attention because it
aims to reduce the disruptions caused by frequent elections, allowing
governments to focus more on governance.
One key fact is that the cost of elections in India has increased
significantly. For example, the 2019 Lok Sabha election cost
approximately ₹50,000 crore, a sharp rise from just ₹10.5 crore in
1951-52. ONOE could help reduce these growing costs by holding fewer
elections, freeing up resources like security personnel and polling staff,
and saving time.
The advantages of ONOE include more stable governance, as
governments will not be interrupted by frequent elections. It could
also reduce “election fatigue” among voters, leading to higher
voter turnout. Additionally, having fewer elections could cut down
on campaign expenses and reduce the misuse of black money in
elections. It can also promote development projects as during
election periods, which last 45-60 days, new schemes or projects cannot
be announced by the Central or State governments, due to imposition
of Model Code of Conduct.
However, ONOE also comes with challenges. One concern is that
simultaneous elections could overshadow local issues, making it
harder for regional parties to compete with larger national
parties. Organizing such a large-scale election across the country would
require massive logistics, including spending almost ₹9000 crores on
new EVMs and VVPAT machines.
In conclusion, while ONOE offers benefits such as cost savings and
smoother governance, we need to carefully consider its impact on political
diversity, local issues, and the practical challenges of managing elections
on such a large scale
