One Nation, One Election: Defend or Refute
- LAVANYA KARKI
- Jun 27, 2024
- 4 min read
BY: Rohan Shah, Sukrati Pania and Lavanya Karki
ROHAN SHAH
To set about on this sail, I would like to reminisce a quote by President Lincoln of the United States: "Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters." The largest democracy in the world, as they call us, the nation where universal adult suffrage triumphed despite of monumental impediments like poverty and illiteracy, the land where prudent roadblocks to democracy couldn’t suppress the democratic aspirations of the people; India or Bharat as we may term it, is embarking on an omnipotent march to development and global prowess. Since its inception, the Indian political playground has been preponderated by the notions of elections and power struggles. Contextually, the Lok Sabha elections of 2024, are said to be precarious on the brink as the political actors are going through a tumultuous phase. It was in such a context of heightened popular discontent and the polarization of political forces that Prime minister Narendra Modi’s NDA government passed the “ONE NATION ONE ELECTION” law.
Contextually, looking around the bill and regarding it on its face value, the law seems like a revolución as they call it in Spanish. The fact that it curbs and eliminates multiple barriers to governance, portrays the bill as one of its kind. In addition, the massive expenses the nation has to bear while conducting these “auspicious political ceremonies” comes down to a minimal number. Former president Ramnath Kovind noted that electoral, bureaucratic as well as social efficiency can be supremely amplified with this law. Adhering to basic human psychology, the law is subject to criticism from left, right and all shades of the center.
Personally, I believe that the law shall bring the greater good of the society and lead to an increased momentum towards democratic amplification. Political parties shall witness minimized expenses through elections and their electoral legitimacy shall be critically witnessed for once and for all. Not a total revolution, but to an extent, a step towards achieving democratic predominance, side by side ensuring the greater good for all. Taking into account the history of the ruling party, it is largely precarious to believe that such a phenomenon isn’t a manifestation of a political maneuverer, especially in the backdrop of The World’s largest democratic elections being just round the corner.
As citizens of this great nation, let us not allow our political ideologies, views and anecdotes to frame a preconception about the actions taken by the government. The world’s largest youth population ought to be sensible, educated and tolerant to multiple opinions. Signing of with a quote by Prime minister Nehru,” a nation stands for humanism, for tolerance, for reason, for the adventure of ideas and for the search for truth. “
SUKRATI PANIA
This year, India witnessed its 18th General Election. It’s "loktantra ka tyohar."
This festival is celebrated with great pomp and show to attract voters. But it is rather expensive for us. Around Rs 55,000 crore was spent during the last General Elections. That’s approx. Rs 700 per voter. Additionally, we have Assembly elections almost every year, which are celebrated with equal fervor. Now imagine the cost, time and amount of resources utilized by the political parties for this year to organize those big-rallies. Here is the need to ask ourselves, do we really have to do this? My opinion is No, Thank You.
So, what exactly is One Nation, One Election? It is a proposal for conducting simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, Assembly, Municipalities and Panchayati Elections. It aims to consolidate and stream line the electoral process, reduce repetitive logistical burdening and ensure continuous governance and development.
If we have only a single election, then the money spent on propagating empty promises could be utilized for making better infrastructure and improving healthcare and education facilities. This can also reduce the role of money in political arena by reducing defection. It is frequently observed that voters in villages are lured by free liquor or by promising free electricity in the name of election campaign. This decision can curb such malpractices and make politics a level playing field.
Mr. Smart-‘Elec’ said, “One Nation, One Election is a promise for No Misconduct, No Hassle.”
LAVANYA KARKI
I DEFEND ONOE.
The concept of ONOE, that is premised on the idea that elections will be held simultaneously at the national level, state level and local level, is bound to strengthen democracy and expedite welfare in the world's largest democracy.
The primary argument in its favor is that ONOE will help India save a large amount of money that is spent on campaigning by political parties and conducting elections by the Election Commission. These savings can be utilized for solving pertinent problems like poverty, unemployment etc.
Secondly, ONOE will strengthen democracy by increasing the voter turnout. when people need to vote at three different levels at three different time periods, many poor people are likely to prefer voting for, let's say, only the local level, which affects them directly.
Thirdly, ONOE will help save the time and efforts of the administrative machinery that gets involved in the conduction of elections. It will, at the same time, enable political leaders to concentrate their energies on implementing welfare programs for the people, rather their spending their time and energy campaigning for various elections.
It is worth noting that India practically conducted ONOE till 1967. the question that deserves to be asked is- If India could conduct simultaneous elections in the decades of 50s and 60s with limited resources, what can possibly stop us in the 21st century with enhanced capabilities and technologies?
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