The ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill currently being fervently supported by Prime Minister Narendra Modi government has provisions that mean that such an election will take place by 2034 and not before, said media reports. The proposal to hold national and state elections simultaneously has got a nod from union cabinet earlier this week and is likely to be tabled in Lok Sabha on Monday (December 16).
Multiple media reports have said that simultaneous election will be held on “appointed date” which will notified by President of India on first sitting of the Lok Sabha. The bill reportedly says state assemblies elected after this notification will see their tenures curtailed so that the state elections can take place when the term of the Lok Sabha ends.
First sitting of Lok Sabha after 2024 elections has already taken place. This means, in theory, that such a notification can only be issued after first sitting of Lok Sabha after 2029 elections. It would then mean that ‘One Nation, One Election’ will be held in 2034.
‘One Nation, One Election’ (ONOE) is enthusiastically backed by PM Modi who says current regime of holding separate elections means that there are always polls taking place in some part of the country. Backers of ONOE says that a single election would save crores of rupees otherwise spent on separate elections.
Opponents of ONOE say that such an election is an attack on federal structure of the country. They say that problems at local levels are different from grievances citizens have about national issues. It is also alleged that the BJP is keen on implementing ONOE because it has designs of taking power across the country in one go.
