The decision of the Tamil Nadu Assembly to adopt the resolution against the Central government’s proposed ‘One Nation, One Election’ policy has put the spotlight once again on the debate over the feasibility of this ‘critical reform’ that the Narendra Modi-led regime is keen to go ahead with. While the resolution moved by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin highlights various points of ‘objections’ to the move, it conveniently chooses to ignore the benefits that the proposed electoral exercise offers. Even the parties opposed to this reform agenda have not yet offered any substantial ground to punch holes in this plan.
‘One Nation, One Election’ refers to the idea of simultaneously holding the general and state elections. A high-level committee (HLC), headed by former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, is already in the process of exploring the possibility of ‘One Nation, One Election’. The panel constituted by the Modi government has so far consulted a galaxy of constitutional and legal luminaries of the country as part of the exercise. However, no specific time limit has been provided for the submission of the report by the Kovind panel.
Under the parliamentary system, the government needs a majority to continue in office. If it loses majority, legislatures are dissolved, and the country or state goes to premature elections, resulting in staggered polls. Synchronising the Lok Sabha and Assembly election cycles will result in governments elected under this practice to be stable for a full five-year term, which will enable them to focus on governance in a much better way. ‘One election’ will result in toning up of the governance efficacy that gets affected badly due to poll processes taking place throughout the year, either in one state or another.
There is no denying that holding an election is an expensive exercise, given the huge cost that every single poll, be it that of Lok Sabha or Assembly, puts on the state exchequer. The huge amount of money spent on holding elections in a scattered manner can be used for greater development and better governance. In fact, the Model Code of Conduct which remains in force in one state or the other throughout the year due to fragmented polls forces bureaucratic and other government apparatus to be engrossed more in election-related duties throughout the year in case of scattered polls.
Needless to say, ‘One Nation, One Election’ could help save the country time, energy and money. The time and money so saved could be used in governing the public in a much better way. It goes without saying that repeated elections divert the focus of the political parties from public-centric works to just winning polls. Simultaneous polls will have the entire government machinery focused more on the works that will benefit the people at the grassroots levels. ‘One Nation, One Election’ is to ensure that common people are the main beneficiaries.
