The BJP has made it a priority to carry out its commitments on the Ram Mandir, the repeal of Article 370, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, and ONOE.....
Digital desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed party office-bearers that he preferred holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies less than two years into his first term. Few people at the time believed it was feasible. The Center thinks that eight years later, the idea is ready.
On the surface, the idea seems reasonable; the administration claims that wasteful spending must be restricted the endless election cycle must end, and attention must be turned back to governance. Opponents counter that it may lessen regional concerns and homogenize India's political diversity.
The report by former president Ram Nath Kovind on "One Nation, One Election" (ONOE), which was submitted just two days before the dates of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were revealed, will provide the BJP with a topic for their campaign. In light of the crores being spent all around them, voters would be more open to the idea.
The BJP has made it a priority to carry out its commitments on the Ram Mandir, the repeal of Article 370, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, and ONOE. When it comes to keeping his ideological pledges, Modi's second term has exceeded his first.
Additionally, the Modi administration may seek other revolutionary initiatives, starting with ONOE, to win more than 400 seats this time around. The Kovind report stated that "certainty is important for decisions central to good governance, which leads to faster development." However, ambiguity always results in a paralysis of policy; therefore, the simultaneous polls would greatly improve transparency, inclusivity, ease of use, and voter confidence.
To implement the proposal, if elected to power, the Modi government plans to modify the Constitution during its first session of parliament. Once put into effect, ONOE can drastically alter the nation's political and governing structures.
The notion, according to opposition parties and some experts, is counter to the federal framework and may cause more harm than benefit. S.Y. Quraishi, a former chief election commissioner, remarked, "The entire proposal lacks sincerity." He said, "Why have a lengthy general election (2024) that lasts more than three months if the goal is to stop staggered elections as a lot of money is spent and governance is stalled? It's longer than it has ever been this time. Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh used to have simultaneous polling, however the last two occasions they were held independently. Why were the concurrent elections held in a segregated manner if [ONOE] is good?"
To hold municipal and panchayat elections within 100 days following the primary election, the second phase involves coordinating those elections with the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Here, it must be ratified by 50% of the state assemblies. In addition to controlling 12 states outright, the BJP leads a coalition in the remaining 5. That increases it to more than half.
Given the unpredictable nature of Indian elections, the most arduous aspect of the process is figuring out what will happen in the event of a hung house, a motion of no confidence, or a withdrawal of support. The group suggested holding new elections to form the assembly, or Lok Sabha, during the house's "unexpired term." Those polls will be called mid-term elections.
Within five years, more elections may result from this, according to Quraishi. For example, new elections must be called for a term of only 12 months if a government collapses with one year remaining in its tenure. "Are elections getting more or less frequent? That kind of proposal is meaningless," he declared. "It is not a high-value recommendation just because it comes from a powerful committee."
In his submission to the panel, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge contended that the claim of higher costs was unfounded because the amount spent in 2014 (Rs3,870 crore) was less than 0.02 percent of the previous budget, which is not a significant amount of money when compared to the potential harm to free and fair elections. "The only times in the last ten years that the house has lost faith in the chief ministers have been when a specific party has misused the government apparatus and twisted the anti-defection law to steal the mandate from the people," Kharge contended. "The government, Parliament, and Election Commission ought to collaborate to guarantee the people's mandate is honored, instead of deflecting attention with discussions of ideas contrary to democracy."
The creation of a single electoral roll and electors' photo identity cards (EPIC) for use in elections to all three tiers of government would be another essential component.
Regarding the legislative obstacles, it would be necessary to shorten or lengthen the terms of office in a few states to conduct polls simultaneously. States run by the opposition are probably going to take issue with this.
In terms of logistics, the state and central election commissioners would face a greater difficulty. Think about this: there were more than 10,38,000 polling places during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, requiring the deployment of 70 lakh poll workers and personnel as well as 3,146 companies of the Central and state armed police forces—a 30% increase over 2014. in light of the approaching elections. 4,719 companies will be needed and so on.
The electronic voting machines would be the next significant obstacle. According to the ECI, there would be a shortage of 15.97 lakh ballot units, 11.49 lakh control units, and 12.36 lakh VVPAT (Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail) units in 2024 if simultaneous elections were to take place. At 2024 pricing, the entire additional expense will be greater than Rs 5,190 crore. Since there will be a lot more booths, especially after delimitation, the price will go up dramatically.
The ECI projected that in 2029, when simultaneous elections are anticipated, there will be around 13.57 lakh polling places. More than Rs7,951 crore would be needed to make up for the shortage of ballot units, control units, and VVPATs. The ECI would require enough time and planning to bridge the gaps, among other obstacles, given the challenges facing the chip industry. In addition, the ECI requires personnel, warehouses, and technicians to maintain the EVMs.
The BJP claims that this is not a new concept, even though the opposition is intensifying its demands and the logistical problems continue. "There were simultaneous polls in India up until 1967," BJP spokesman and attorney Nalin Kohli stated. "The breach was caused by Indira Gandhi's policies, which resulted in the removal of numerous state governments. An uninterrupted era of government under ONOE can only be advantageous to the populace.
The panel study also discusses "voter fatigue," a phenomenon marked by voters' apathy and disinterest as a result of the frequent elections.
States and smaller parties, however, worry that the national parties may eclipse their issues and viewpoints. Furthermore, holding elections just once every five years may make the administration less accountable.
At that time, the Hindi heartland, where the BJP is in power, may resonate with ONOE more so than the east or south, where regional parties are more prevalent.
Kohli, on the other hand, disapproved of the federal spirit and disagreed that ONOE would hurt regional sentiment. He declared, "Data do not speak in that direction." In parallel polls, Indian voters selected representatives from several political parties. Odisha is a recurring example of this.
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