One Nation One Election: The cabinet has approved One Nation One Election. The special thing is that this decision of the central government has also been accepted by the NDA i.e. National Democratic Alliance allies in Bihar. It is being said that this is the first time when the allies of Bihar and the Bharatiya Janata Party have come together on an issue. In fact, before this, the Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) had different opinions on the issue of lateral entry and Wakf Board Bill.
On the issue of One Nation One Election, JDU, LJP (R) and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) seem to be supporting the cabinet proposal. Talking to the Indian Express, JDU advisor KC Tyagi said, ‘Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had expressed his support for One Nation One Election years ago. This will be helpful for small parties like us who have less election funds.’
Party spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said, ‘Our senior leaders like Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha had put forth their views before the Ramnath Kovind Committee. This is a welcome step. Those who are criticizing it should remember that we had followed one country one election till 1967.’
What did LJP (R) say?
Union Minister Chirag Paswan has termed it a historic step. He wrote, ‘By approving the proposal of one country one election, the Union Cabinet has today taken a big and historic step in the interest of the country. ‘One country, one election’ will further strengthen the democratic process of the country, reduce election expenses and accelerate development work.’
He further wrote, ‘Also, transparency in elections will increase and the financial burden on the government exchequer will be reduced. From the security point of view in elections, the role of paramilitary forces, police and administrative officials will also be simplified. The proposal of ‘One Country, One Election’ was also supported by my leader, my father revered Ram Vilas Paswan ji and I, my party Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) support the proposal of #OneNationOneElection.’
HAM’s opinion
Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi wrote, ‘Elections are held in some state or the other every year. Due to this continuity of elections, the country is always in election mode. This not only affects administrative and policy decisions but also puts a heavy burden on the country’s treasury. ‘One Nation-One Election’ will also provide convenience to Dalit voters. Now the rule of vote looters will not work.’
Kovind committee made top 10 recommendations
1. The government should develop a legally acceptable mechanism to restore the cycle of holding simultaneous elections.
2. In the first phase, elections for Lok Sabha and all state assemblies can be held simultaneously.
3. In the second phase, elections to municipalities and Panchayats will be synchronized with the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies in such a way that elections to municipalities and Panchayats are held within 100 days of the Parliamentary and Assembly elections.
4. For the purpose of holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assemblies, the President shall notify the date of the first meeting of the Lok Sabha after the general election as the “appointed date”.
5. The term of all state assemblies formed through elections after the ‘appointed date’ and before the expiry of the full term of the Lok Sabha will be only for the period until the subsequent parliamentary elections. After this one-time temporary arrangement, all Lok Sabha and assembly elections will be held simultaneously.
6. In case of a hung situation in the House or a no-confidence motion or any such situation, fresh elections can be held to constitute a new Lok Sabha.
7. Where fresh elections to the House of the People are held, the term of the House shall be “only for the remainder of the immediately preceding full term of the House.”
8. When fresh elections to State Legislative Assemblies are held, such new Legislative Assemblies – unless sooner dissolved – shall continue till the end of the full term of the Lok Sabha.
9. A single electoral roll and Elector’s Photo Identity Card (EPIC) will be prepared by the Election Commission of India in consultation with the State Election Commission and it will replace any other electoral roll prepared by the ECI.
10. To make logistics arrangements for holding simultaneous elections, the Election Commission of India may prepare plans and estimates in advance for the purchase of equipment like EVMs and VVPATs, deployment of polling personnel and security forces and other necessary arrangements.
