Sep 4, 2023
By: Abhishek Jha
Credit: BCCL
One Nation, One Election or ONOE envisages holding the central (Lok Sabha) and the state elections together to save effort and cost of holding multiple elections in the country.
Credit: BCCL
The Indian government, on September 1, set up a high level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind to explore the possibility of ONOE.
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The committee will examine and make recommendations for holding simultaneous elections in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. It will also suggest requited constitutional amendments.
Credit: BCCL
The Law Ministry has outlined seven terms of reference for the high level committee. One of the important things for the committee to consider is if the move will require to be ratified by the states.
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There are three ways in which the constitution can be amended – simple majority, special majority and ratification by states.
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When the constitution is amended by special majority, both the houses (the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha) have to pass the motion with 2/3rd majority. When it comes to ratification by the states, half the states need to be on board.
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Apart from former President Kovind, Home Minister Amit Shah and senior politician Ghulam Nabi Azad, Harish Salve, Sanjay Kothari, NK Singh and Subhash Kashyap will be part of the committee. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has refused to be a part of it.
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Opposition alliance INDIA has said that the Naredra Modi government is “scared” seeing their alliance and thus going for this move.
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India held simultaneous polls for Centre and States from 1951 to 1967. However, premature dissolutions made the timelines differ as time went on.
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The report said that one election would save money and also reduce the burden on security forces. It later, however, questioned if such a move would endanger India’s federal polity.
Credit: Canva