The proposal for harmonizing the electoral cycle across all levels of government in India has garnered a positive response for its potential to streamline governance and minimize disruptions caused by frequent elections. Asserting the positives of this approach, the Ram Nath Kovind panel has suggested a system of conducting Lok Sabha and state assembly elections simultaneously, with local body elections following within a hundred days. This proposition seeks to address the challenges of cost, competitiveness, and governance hiatus that elections often impose. The committee emphasizes the need for a comprehensive discussion in the legislative framework to address concerns relating to the federal structure and the Constitution, and to create a broad political consensus.
Historically, India did experience concurrent elections in its early post-independence years, which changed due to varied political situations and interventions. Although the notion of synchronized elections might receive pushback from those suspicious of it leading to a more centralized polity, the nuances of voter behavior and intelligence suggest an intrinsic understanding of the federal balance, which could negate such fears. Nonetheless, the Union government is now tasked with the challenge of assuaging the concerns of the Opposition and state entities about the perceived risks of centralization that could accompany such a change. On the political front, the onus is on the Opposition to understand that it’s not just election processes that determine outcomes but the strength of their political strategies as well.
Recent engagement within the committee has been under scrutiny as major figures like Home Minister Amit Shah and Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal have shown low attendance. With only a fraction of sessions attended, including the critical final report meeting, their participation is questioned. This comes on the heels of the departure of the Congress Leader in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, from the committee. As the concept of ‘One Nation, One Election’ continues to be analyzed, the focus remains on fostering inclusive dialogue and ensuring that the political and governance benefits can be legitimately weighed against potential concerns about the administrative uniformity and the essence of India’s federal structure.