One Nation One Election: Is it possible?

     The BJP led government in Centre with its leader, the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi has been known for introducing new system or remodelling already existing system since he came to power be it in finance, legal or parliamentary. One of the best example is  demonetisation. 

            Again recently, Modi has proposed in Parliament about his idea of introduction of  ONE NATION ONE ELECTION which is already been placed before parliamentary committee. The government has set up a committee under the Chairmanship of former president Ram Nath Kovind to work on the Bill and place it in parliament for introduction during the special session from September 18 to 22.

            The words ONE NATION ONE ELECTION itself speak the meaning. The words mean holding state legislative assembly and parliamentary election throughout the nation simultaneously.  In a country like India having population of 150 crore, it will be a mammoth work to hold election simultaneously. The implementation of ONE NATION ONE ELECTION will  require constitutional amendments, legal changes and political consensus which is a complex and lengthy process. On the other hand, beneficial part is that it will reduce frequency of election and the costs of elections.

            On 1st September, the government set up  a high level committee under former President  to examine the possibility of holding Lok Sabha and Assembly elections together.

            On 2^nd September, the centre announced the eight member panel. It will have as members Home Minister Amit Shah, Lok Sabha MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, former leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Harish Salve, jurist, former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Sanjay Kothari, ex-chairman of Finance Commission N.K Singh and former secretary general of Lok Sabha C. Kashyap and the panel meetings will be attended by the Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Justice. Congress leader, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury however decline to be part of the Committee.

        Former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a vocal supporter of simultaneous elections. However the proposal did not lead to legislative changes. The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi also stressed the need for debate and discussion on simultaneous elections in his Independence Day speech in 2019.

          It may be enormous job of the government to implement any new system, but obviously not an impossible job. It may have to face challenges but in the end, it may be beneficial for the interest of the nation.