Initiative for ONOE launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra ModiThe matter has now taken formal shape with the report of a panel headed by the former president. Ram Nath Kovind playing a central role.
The idea of one nation, one election
The essence of the ONOE scheme is to synchronise the election cycles of the Lok Sabha and various state assemblies across the country. Currently, elections in India are held at different times, leading to frequent polls across states, which some argue disrupts the electoral process. GovernmentONOE’s proposal advocates aligning these election cycles so that elections are held once every five years, ensuring that voters can cast their ballots for both national and state representatives on the same day.
The proposal is not entirely new. India has had simultaneous elections right from the first general election in 1951-52 till the late 1960s. However, subsequent political instability, including the premature dissolution of some state assemblies, led to the current scenario where different states hold elections at different intervals.
India and One Nation, One Election: Benefits of Simultaneous Nationwide Voting
Proponents of the ONOE system argue that it offers several key advantages:
cost efficiency: One of the primary arguments in favour of ONOE is the potential for significant cost savings. The financial burden of holding separate elections is enormous, with the 2019 Lok Sabha elections alone costing around ₹60,000 crore. Holding simultaneous elections could reduce these costs substantially, leading to significant savings for both political parties and the Election Commission.
Administrative Efficiency: Regular elections across different states require the deployment of security personnel and election officials on a large scale, often diverting these resources from their regular duties. Simultaneous elections would streamline the process, ensuring that security and administrative resources are concentrated, rather than spread out, in one election cycle every five years.
Increase in Voting Percentage: Voter participation could be increased by combining national and state elections. Citizens would have the opportunity to vote for both levels of government on the same day, reducing voter fatigue and possibly increasing turnout.
There was less disruption in governance: The frequent holding of elections is often cited as a disruption to governance, as it puts government officials in “election mode”, delaying decision-making and policy implementation. Holding simultaneous elections would enable the government to focus on governance without the need for constant campaign management.
Challenges and Criticisms of One Nation, One Election
Despite its many advantages, the ONOE proposal faces significant hurdles in terms of both logistics and political consensus.
Constitutional and legal changes: Implementing the ONOE would require a number of amendments to the Constitution, particularly to articles that govern the timing of elections, the terms of legislatures, and electoral procedures. For example, Representation of the People ActThe 1951 Constitutional Amendment will need to be amended to align with election schedules. This process is not straightforward, as any constitutional amendment requires approval by a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament, as well as ratification by at least half of India’s states.
Potential impact on local issues: Critics argue that holding simultaneous elections could overshadow state-level concerns, and allow national issues to dominate the debate. This could reduce attention to state-specific challenges, potentially creating a disconnect between voters’ expectations and the results of state elections. Some also fear that it could lead to a centralisation of power, giving the party ruling at the national level more influence over state politics.
Logical Constraints: Holding simultaneous elections in India will be a huge task, as there are over 900 million voters. Ensuring the availability of electronic voting machines (EVMs), managing election personnel, and coordinating between security forces will require careful planning and unprecedented resource mobilization.
Opposition from political parties: There has been a mixed response from political parties to the ONOE proposal. Bharatiya Janata Party ,BJP) and its allies largely support the move, but opposition parties such as the Congress, the Left and the Trinamool Congress have voiced their disagreement with the proposal, arguing that it weakens India’s federal structure. These parties believe that the ONOE could reduce the autonomy of state governments, giving the central government an edge in state affairs.
How will one nation, one election be implemented?
Although the ONOE proposal has been discussed for several years, its implementation remains a complex and multi-step process. The Ram Nath Kovind-led panel has recommended a phased approach:
phase 1: This step involves holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. To achieve this, the central government will need to pass a constitutional amendment while garnering the necessary support in Parliament and among the states.
phase 2: The second phase will also see simultaneous elections to municipal bodies and panchayats. However, this phase poses even bigger challenges, as many states with opposition-led governments may oppose the change and building a consensus on local-level elections is expected to be even more difficult.
A key recommendation of the Kovind panel includes creating a single voter list for all three levels of government, as well as a voter photo identity card (EPIC) that can be used universally. However, these measures also require amendments to the Constitution, making the process lengthy and complex.
The way forward towards one nation, one election and simultaneous elections across the country
Though the concept of ONOE has wide support from various sections of society, especially the youth and some political parties, it is facing opposition from various quarters. The central government has indicated that it will adopt a “consensus building” approach by engaging with academics, intellectuals, political leaders and social groups to create a conducive environment for the proposal.
The implementation of ONOE would bring about a significant change in India’s democratic structure, but it is not possible to realise it without overcoming significant legal, logistical and political hurdles. UPSC AspirantsUnderstanding ONOE is essential not only from a governance perspective, but also in terms of its impact on federalism. Electoral processand constitutional law. The debate surrounding the ONOE will remain an important topic in the years to come, especially as the 2029 elections approach, the proposed starting point for simultaneous elections.
