One Nation, One Election: How will it be implemented, what are the challenges?

The Government of India has taken a big step towards implementing its key issue of One Nation, One Election. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday approved the Constitutional Amendment Bill to hold simultaneous Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections. Sources say the government may now table the bill in the House soon. The consensus on the bill is to enable the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections to be held simultaneously across the country. This will reduce election expenses and administrative burden which will be in the interest of the country. Elections to the Lok Sabha and Assemblies are held at different times, posing a variety of challenges. If the elections were held simultaneously, the electoral expenditures would be a one-off and save considerable money. Time will be saved; people and the country will be benefited.

Challenges for the One Nation One Election process

Its biggest challenge is that even if the bill becomes law in Parliament, the implementation will take at least 10 years. The government is now preparing to introduce the bill in the winter session of Parliament which may be introduced.

To get the bill passed in Parliament, the government would have to muster a two-thirds majority in both houses and, in addition, get it approved by the assemblies of at least 15 states. It can then be signed into law by the President and become effective. As such, it will take quite some time which is the biggest challenge.

Even once the law is enacted, implementation will have to work in several stages. For example, the Election Commission will require a larger number of EVMs and VVPATs, which will take time to manufacture and test.

Constitutional amendment required

After the bill is introduced, the first constitutional amendment is necessary to implement it. It would require changes in five key articles—Articles 83, 85, 172, 174, and These articles of the Constitution deal with the terms of office of the Lok Sabha and the Assemblies, the power of dissolution, and the rule of the President.

Need time for full implementation

Even if the bill passes without changes, it could take several years for it to be fully implemented. According to the Election Commission, it will take at least three years to arrange the EVMs and other resources needed to hold the elections simultaneously. If steps are taken hastily, technical and administrative shortcomings may arise.

The Election Commission says it will take intensive planning and preparation to hold simultaneous elections in a large democracy like India. The Election Commission therefore suggested that it would not be possible to implement One Nation One Election in a hurry. Manufacturing companies of EVMs must develop the capacity to produce large quantities for the process, which is currently limited.

While the BJP has described it as a democracy-strengthening move, the Congress has opposed it, calling it against democratic values. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said the need for elections in a democracy changes with time and it is not practical to lump them together.