Under the stewardship of former President Ram Nath Kovind, a high-level committee has embraced the ambitious 'One Nation-One Election' concept, presenting a meticulously detailed 18,626-page report to President Draupadi Murmu after extensive research and analysis over 191 days since its inception on September 2, 2023.
The groundbreaking proposal emphasizes a unified electoral roll for legislative, state, and local body elections, which currently operate under separate voter lists – a practice resulting in disjointed administrative efforts under the supervision of the State Election Commissions for local municipal and panchayat elections.
Through its initial phase, the report delineates details pertinent to legislative and state assembly elections, and in its subsequent phase, it proposes integrating municipal and panchayat elections to be scheduled within 100 days of legislative and state assembly elections.
Essentially, the 'One Nation-One Election' initiative is aimed at unifying the various segregated electoral processes that were initially conducted simultaneously post-independence but subsequently diverged due to assemblies dissolving prematurely and ensuing government collapses.
What are the Benefits of 'One Nation-One Election'?
Preventing wastage of funds:
Advocates argue that implementing the 'One Nation-One Election' bill would save substantial financial resources spent on multiple elections held periodically, noting a rise from the 11 crore rupees spent during the 1951-1952 legislative elections to a staggering 60 thousand crore rupees spent in the 2019 legislative elections. Prime Minister Modi has highlighted that this would conserve national resources and ensure that developmental momentum isn't hindered.
Eliminating repeated election cycles:
Supporters also contend that a country as vast as India, with elections occurring in some regions annually, would benefit greatly from this bill. If applied, the redundant processes of continuous election preparation would be obviated, and a single cohesive voter list would prevent interruptions in the government's developmental projects.
Curbing black money and corruption:
Another strong argument in favor of 'One Nation-One Election' is that it would greatly aid in the fight against corruption and black money, which are rampant during election campaigns. The new bill's implementation is expected to mitigate these issues significantly.
