'One Nation, One Election' likely to be implemented during NDA’s current tenure

The Narendra Modi government is all set to implement the ‘One Nation, One Election’ policy during its current term, government sources have said.

The sources have also exuded confidence that the measure would receive support from across party lines.

“Definitely, it will be implemented in this tenure itself. It will be a reality,” a source told PTI on the condition of anonymity.

Recommendations of Kovind-led panel

A committee chaired by former President Ramnath Kovind in its report on the matter has recommended simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha and state Assemblies for starters, while suggesting the conduct of synchronised local body polls within 100 days.

Simultaneous polls will help save resources, spur development and social cohesion, deepen "foundations of democratic rubric" and help realise the aspirations of "India, that is Bharat", the panel said in its report.

It also proposed creation of an 'Implementation Group' to look into the execution of the panel's recommendations.

The panel recommended as many as 18 constitutional amendments, most of which will not need ratification by state Assemblies. However, these would require certain Constitution amendment Bills that would need to be passed by Parliament.

The plan may soon get the nod of the Law Commission, which may recommend simultaneous conduct of Lok Sabha, state Assembly and local body polls from 2029. The committee may also recommend a provision for unity government (a coalition government of all major parties, mostly formed during wars) in case of a hung house or no-confidence motion.

Modi’s I-Day pitch

While the BJP-led government has been mulling on One Nation, One Election for quite some time, Prime Minister Modi had made a fresh pitch for it in his Independence Day address this year.

Addressing the nation on the 78th Independence Day, he said extensive consultations have been held across the country on the issue and all political parties have given their views. A committee, he added, has submitted an excellent report.

"Frequent elections are creating hurdles in the progress of the nation. It has become easy to link any scheme/initiative with elections. There are elections somewhere every three to six months. Every work is linked to elections," Modi said from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

"The nation has to come forward for one nation, one election," he said.

The prime minister urged political parties to ensure that national resources are used for the common person and said, "We have to come forward to realise the dream of one nation one election."

Why is Opposition against the idea?

One Nation, One Election was one of the key promises of the BJP in its election manifesto. The idea, however, has been staunchly protested by the Opposition.

Opposition parties argue that conducting simultaneous polls would involve syncing electoral cycles with minimum disruption in governance. They say there is lack of clarity on how different states, which have held polls at different times, would be brought to the same timeline without affecting the remainder of the term of the ruling government.

The parties have also pointed to a lack of clarity in dissolution of Houses, President’s Rule or hung assemblies or Parliament.

Regional parties say if Lok Sabha and Assembly polls are held simultaneous, it may prevent them from highlighting local issues as effectively as the whole limelight will be grabbed by the central issues.