The Indian government is pushing forward with its ‘One Nation, One Election’ plan, following the recommendations of a high-level panel. This initiative aims to hold simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies in a phased manner, after building a consensus across the country. Home Minister Amit Shah lauded the cabinet’s decision, calling it a monumental step towards significant electoral reforms.
Interestingly, the concept of ‘One Nation, One Election’ isn’t new. Between 1951 and 1967, India held simultaneous elections, with the last one taking place in 1967 during the fourth Lok Sabha elections. During that election, the Congress party faced significant setbacks, losing its dominance in nine states, including Tamil Nadu (then Madras state), Gujarat, Odisha, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Kerala, and Delhi. Despite these challenges, Congress retained power in the Lok Sabha, and Indira Gandhi was sworn in again as Prime Minister on March 13, 1967.
The 1967 elections marked a major shift in Indian politics. In Gujarat, the Congress won 11 out of 24 seats while the Swatantra Party secured 12. Similarly, in Madras, Congress won only 3 out of 39 seats, with the DMK securing 25. In Orissa and Rajasthan, the Swatantra Party gained considerable ground, and Congress fared poorly in Kerala, Delhi, and West Bengal as well.
Fast forward to today, the ‘One Nation, One Election’ plan is expected to be implemented in two phases. The first phase will cover simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, while the second phase will involve elections for local bodies like panchayats and municipalities within 100 days of the general election. A common electoral roll is also on the cards, requiring cooperation between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the state election commissions, who currently manage these elections separately.
The Kovind panel, which recommended this framework, has proposed 18 constitutional amendments to enable ‘One Nation, One Election.’ Most of these amendments do not require approval from state assemblies but will need to pass as bills in Parliament to come into effect.
This reform could be a game-changer in India’s electoral process, streamlining election management, reducing costs, and potentially shifting the political landscape in unprecedented ways. However, it remains to be seen how the nation will embrace this change.
