Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 8 : Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday participated in the One Nation One Election campaign in Bengaluru, Karnataka, emphasising the need for simultaneous elections in India.
Chouhan argued that the current system of frequent elections leads to a significant waste of resources and energy, highlighting that the constant election cycle diverts a major part of the nation's energy and resources, which could be better utilised for long-term development goals.
He stressed that holding Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections together would enable policymakers to focus on policy-driven decisions rather than being preoccupied with election preparations.
"In our nation, all parties are immersed in election preparations, and a major part of our energy goes into that. Due to this, a lot of money is wasted, and no long-term goals are set. It is time the nation thinks about this. At least Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections should now be conducted together, so there is no waste of time, and we can take policy-driven decisions. For this, the One Nation One Election campaign is going on across the country," he said.
The One Nation One Election campaign aims to raise awareness and build consensus on simultaneous elections nationwide. The campaign's proponents argue that simultaneous elections would reduce the strain on the electoral machinery, minimise disruptions to governance, and promote more focused and sustained policy implementation.
The Constitution 129th Amendment Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws Amendment Bill, 2024, were introduced in the Lok Sabha during the Winter Session of Parliament to achieve one nation, one election. They propose simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies across the country.
The bill was referred to the JPC for scrutiny and discussion. Opposition members have been opposing the amendments and have argued that the proposed change could disproportionately benefit the ruling party, giving it undue influence over the electoral process in states and undermining the autonomy of regional parties. They have also argued that the bills proposing simultaneous elections are against the federal structure.
On Sunday, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that the 'One Nation, One Election' initiative would help speed up India's development and reduce election-related expenses. Speaking at a marathon organised to support the proposal, CM Saini stated frequent elections stall growth and disrupt momentum.
On March 25, the JPC held an important meeting that lasted over five hours. Several MPs in the committee raised concerns about the practicality of holding Lok Sabha and state elections together.
The Constitution Amendment Bill empowers ECI to recommend to the President to postpone an election to a State Assembly. Currently, Article 356 of the Constitution allows for postponing an Assembly election only under specified conditions, which also involve approval by Parliament. The Bill does not have such requirements, and hence, it lowers the threshold for postponing elections.
The Constitution Amendment Bill does not specify a time limit on the postponement of an Assembly election. This opens the possibility of a state being left without an Assembly.
Legislatures in India have a term of five years. Elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies were held together from 1951 to 1967.
However, this cycle was disrupted in 1968 and 1969 due to the premature dissolution of some State Assemblies. In 1970, the fourth Lok Sabha was also dissolved prematurely. Since then, elections for Lok Sabha and State Assemblies have been held with different schedules.