One Nation One Election : The discussion on one country-one election has progressed. The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to hold Lok Sabha and state assembly elections simultaneously. Now it remains to be seen how this proposal takes shape.
committee report
In fact, the cabinet has accepted the report of the committee constituted under the chairmanship of former President Ram Nath Kovind. This committee had submitted its report to President Draupadi Murmu in March. The committee had also proposed the establishment of an ‘implementation group’ to look into the implementation of its recommendations.
The committee has recommended 18 constitutional amendments, most of which will not require ratification by state legislatures. However, some will require Constitution Amendment Bills to be passed by Parliament.
– Some of the proposed changes regarding a single voter list and a single voter ID card will require approval by at least half of the states.
– Besides, the Law Commission is also likely to submit its report on holding simultaneous elections soon. The Law Commission may recommend simultaneous elections for all three levels of government – Lok Sabha, state assemblies and local bodies such as municipalities and panchayats – from 2029 and make provision for a “unity government” in case of a hung House.
What the report says
– The report says that – Initially there were two elections every ten years. Now there are multiple elections every year. This places a heavy burden on the government, businesses, workers, courts, political parties, contesting candidates and civil society at large. Therefore the committee recommends that the government should develop a legally viable mechanism to restore the cycle of simultaneous elections.
– The committee recommends that in the first phase, elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies should be held simultaneously. In the second phase, elections for municipalities and panchayats will be coordinated with the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. In such a way that elections for municipalities and panchayats are held within 100 days of the elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
– For the purpose of holding simultaneous elections to the House of the People and to the State Legislative Assemblies, the Committee recommends that the President of India may, by notification, appoint the date of the first meeting of the House of the People after the general election to the House of the People. The Election Commission shall apply the provisions of this article and that date of such notification shall be called the appointed date.
– The committee recommends the implementation of Article 324A to conduct elections. The term of all state assemblies should be extended till the next Lok Sabha elections i.e. 2029.
Re-election in case of a hung house
– The Committee recommends that in case of a hung House, no-confidence motion or any such event, fresh elections may be held to constitute a new House.
– Where fresh elections to the Lok Sabha are held, the term of the Lok Sabha shall be for the remainder of the term immediately preceding the full term of the Lok Sabha and the expiry of that term shall operate as a dissolution.
– Election Commission will prepare single voter list and voter ID card in consultation with state election officers for Lok Sabha, Assembly, local body elections.
– The panel has recommended advance planning of equipment, manpower and security forces to hold simultaneous elections.
what are the chances now
– To implement one country-one election, the term of many state assemblies will be reduced. The term of the states where assembly elections are held at the end of 2023 can be extended.
– The report also said that if all the parties agree on the Law Commission’s proposal, it will be implemented only from 2029. Also, for this, assembly elections will have to be held in 25 states by December 2026.
– The term of the assemblies of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram should be extended by 6 months till June 2029. After that, assembly and Lok Sabha elections can be held simultaneously in all the states.
– Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim: Their term is ending in June 2024 itself.
– Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Delhi: Their tenure will have to be cut by 5-8 months. Then the assemblies in these states will run for full 5 years till June 2029.
– Bihar’s current term will be completed. The next term will be only 3 and a half years. – Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry’s current term will be reduced by 3 years and 7 months. The next term will also be 3 and a half years.
– Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Manipur, Punjab and Uttarakhand: The current term will be reduced by 3 to 5 months. After that it will be two and a quarter years. Gujarat, Karnataka, Himachal, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura: The current term will be reduced by 13 to 17 months. After that it will be two and a quarter years. After these three phases, the term of all the assemblies of the country will end in June 2029.
What will happen next?
– As per the Cabinet decision, the Law Ministry will add new sections in the Constitution as recommended by the Law Commission so that simultaneous elections can be held.
– It will be passed in both the Houses of Parliament and a recommendation will be made to pass the resolution in the State Assemblies also.
– After this, elections for Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies can be ensured simultaneously in three phases by 2029.
