LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

Greetings members of the Parliament,

We extend a warm welcome to each one of you. As we prepare for what promises
to be an engaging and dynamic conference, we wanted to take a moment to
express our enthusiasm and anticipation for the upcoming proceedings.

First and foremost, we would like to encourage each of you to actively participate
in your committee. Your contributions, insights, and collaborative efforts are vital
to the success of our committee. Remember, your unique perspectives and ideas
have the power to drive meaningful discussions and shape innovative solutions to
the complex issues we will be addressing.

We understand that participating in a conference can be both exhilarating and

challenging, especially for those of you who may be attending for the first time.
Rest assured; we are here to support you every step of the way. Whether you have
questions about the procedure, need clarification on a topic, or simply want to
bounce ideas off of someone, please don't hesitate to reach out. We are committed
to ensuring that your experience is enriching, fulfilling, and memorable.

As delegates, you bring with you a wealth of knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm,
and we are genuinely excited to learn alongside every one of you. Together, we
can engage in meaningful dialogue, challenge assumptions, and broaden our
perspectives. Let us embrace this journey of discovery with open minds and open
hearts, knowing that we have much to learn from one another.

Warmest regards,

Pragati Mishra (Speaker)

Mandeep Singh (Deputy Speaker)
Soumya Mishra (Scribe)
Effects of Implementing the One Nation One Election
Policy in India

UNDERSTANDING THE AGENDA

In the popular sense of the term “One Nation One Election‟ entails elections to all
three tiers of the Constitutional institutions i.e. House of the People (Lok Sabha),
State Assemblies (Vidhan Sabha) and Local bodies taking place in a synchronized
manner. What this effectively means is that a voter casts his or her vote for electing
members to all the tiers of the Government on the same day. This would involve
holding elections for the central and state governments simultaneously across the
country.

The need for having synchronized elections to the House of the People and State
Legislative Assemblies has been debated for a long. The issue gained momentum
with the matter coming into the limelight at various forums of the Government.

If the history of elections in India is looked at, one finds that during the first two
decades after independence, general elections for the House of the People and the
State Legislative Assemblies were held simultaneously, during the years 1951-52,
1957, 1962 and 1967.

However, due to the dissolution of certain State Assemblies in 1968 and 1969
followed by the dissolution of the House of the People in 1970 and subsequent
general elections in 1971, the cycle of simultaneous elections was disrupted.

NEED FOR HOLDING ‘ONE NATION ONE ELECTION’

It won’t be unreasonable to state that the Indian polity is perennially in an election

mode. Barring a few exceptional years within a normal 5-year tenure of the Lok
Sabha, the country witnesses, on average, elections to about 5-7 State Assemblies
every year. Numerous factors point towards the need for such a mechanism in a
democracy like India.

Some of the many reasons are listed below:

Reduced Election Expenditure:

One of the key proposed benefits of implementing the One Nation One Election
policy is the significant reduction in election-related expenditure for the
government. India currently holds multiple elections at different times across the
country, which results in heavy and continuous spending on the electoral process.
Holding simultaneous elections would consolidate these costs and lead to
substantial savings for the exchequer.

According to estimates, the Government of India spends approximately ₹4,500-

₹5,000 crore (US$600-670 million) in each Lok Sabha election. State assembly
elections also incur massive costs, with the total expenditure for all state elections
adding up to several thousand crore rupees. Synchronizing these elections would
allow for more efficient utilization of resources, manpower, and infrastructure,
leading to significant financial savings for the government.

Reduced Administrative Burden:

In addition to direct financial savings, the One Nation One Election policy would
also reduce the administrative burden and logistical challenges associated with
holding multiple elections throughout the year. The current system requires the
constant deployment of security forces, election officials, and other administrative
resources to manage the electoral process across the country. Consolidating these
efforts into a single nationwide election would streamline the process and allow for
more effective deployment of resources.

It takes a colossal amount of time, effort, and complexity to engage poll workers
for noticeably longer periods during elections. Many polling officers from
government organizations are required by the ECI to ensure seamless, peaceful, and
unbiased polling. The Election Commission of India (ECI) employed over 10
million people to serve as poll workers, managing and overseeing the electoral
process at 9,30,000 polling places nationwide for the 16th Lok Sabha elections. This
corresponds to an average of 10.75 workers per polling place.
Effective Voter Turnout:

Observing how voters cast their ballots in separate, concurrent elections is also
fascinating. Numerous studies have argued that holding the elections
simultaneously will boost voter turnout. Voter turnout is widely acknowledged as
the distinguishing feature of representative democracy, as it reflects the vitality of
civic engagement and political citizenship. In an investigation into Indian elections,
Mr Csaba Nikolenyi, a professor at Concordia University in Montreal, used simple
formulas to determine voter motivation among other things. He concluded that the
country's separate elections were keeping more Indians from taking part in the
democratic process. Nikolenyi concluded that voter turnout in national elections
will be higher in those states where state elections are also held at the same time by
comparing voter turnouts in Indian state and national elections done concurrently
and separately using this and other formulae.

POTENTIAL RISKS INVOLVING ‘ONOE’

On the contrary, the implementation of the One Nation One Election policy also
carries certain financial risks and challenges that must be carefully considered.

Potential For Increased Costs

One concern is the potential for increased costs in the initial years of
implementation, as the government would need to invest in upgrading
infrastructure, technology, and training to facilitate synchronized elections. The
transition period may also require additional expenditure on voter education and
awareness campaigns to ensure a smooth shift to the new system.

Additionally, there are concerns that the policy could lead to a concentration of
power at the central level, as the dominance of national parties may increase in a
simultaneous election scenario. This could have implications for the financial
autonomy and decision-making of state governments, potentially affecting the
allocation of resources and the implementation of state-specific policies and
programs.

Legal Considerations:

The implementation of the One Nation One Election policy would also require
extensive legal and constitutional amendments, which could pose significant
challenges.
Constitutional Feasibility:

The current constitutional framework in India does not provide a clear legal basis
for holding simultaneous elections. The Constitution grants state legislatures the
power to determine the duration of their respective assemblies, which could conflict
with the implementation of a nationwide synchronized election system.

Any attempts to alter the existing electoral system would require amendments to
the Constitution, which can be a complex and politically contentious process. The
proposal would need to address issues such as the tenure of state assemblies, the
timing of Lok Sabha and state elections, and the potential impact on the federal
structure of India.

RELEVANT CASE LAWS

The legal feasibility of the One Nation One Election policy has been the subject of
ongoing debate and judicial scrutiny.

In the landmark case of Anoop Baranwal v. Union of India (2017), the Supreme
Court of India acknowledged the merits of holding simultaneous elections but also
highlighted the significant legal and constitutional hurdles involved. The court
emphasized the need for a comprehensive legal framework to address the
complexities of such a transition.

Additionally, in the case of Rameshwar Prasad v. Union of India (2006), the

Supreme Court upheld the principle of state autonomy in matters related to the
duration of state assemblies, which could conflict with the implementation of the
One Nation One Election policy.

These court rulings underscore the importance of carefully navigating the legal and
constitutional landscape to ensure the feasibility and legality of the proposed
reforms.
 CONCLUSION

Any nation's democracy and political system are subject to constant change. This
is especially true for India, which is in a unique position because of its unity in
variety. A mature and dynamic democracy must always seek to improve the general
structure of the nation through increasingly fruitful and constructive reforms.

The implementation of the One Nation One Election policy in India has the
potential to yield significant financial benefits, such as reduced election
expenditure and administrative burden. However, this policy also carries financial
risks and legal complexities that must be thoroughly addressed.

The transition to synchronized elections would require substantial investments in

infrastructure, technology, and voter education, and could potentially impact the
financial autonomy of state governments. Moreover, the legal and constitutional
feasibility of the policy remains a subject of ongoing debate and judicial scrutiny.

As the government continues to explore this policy option, it is crucial to conduct

comprehensive impact assessments, engage in extensive stakeholder
consultations, and develop a robust legal framework to ensure the successful
implementation of the One Nation One Election concept in India.
RELEVANT RESOURCES TO READ:

1. ANALYSIS OF SIMULTANEOUS ELECTIONS THE “WHAT”, “WHY”

AND “HOW”. (Discussion Paper)
2. 79TH REPORT OF PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE,2015
3. WORKING PAPER OF NITI AYOG, 2017.
4. ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA, FIRST ANNUAL REPORT, 1983
5. HIGH-LEVEL COMMITTEE REPORT ON SIMULTANEOUS
ELECTIONS IN INDIA, 2024

These are a few papers that you may read and go through to understand the data and
statistics of the agenda, you may also refer to, the official site of the Department of
Legal Affairs, and further read Electoral Politics, NCERT to understand the depth
of electoral reforms and how the constitution binds it all together.