One Nation, One Election (ONOE) Proposal
The BJP/NDA government pushes for ONOE, aiming to align Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections into a single cycle for efficiency and cost savings.
Supporters cite administrative and fiscal benefits, but critics warn it could weaken democracy and State autonomy.
Implementing ONOE requires constitutional amendments, especially to Articles 83 and 172, which guarantee five-year terms for Parliament and State Assemblies.
Historical Context and Federal Overreach
Simultaneous elections existed post-Independence, but were disrupted by the misuse of Article 356 (President’s Rule), undermining State autonomy.
Article 356 was misused over 130 times, often for political gain, weakening federalism and dismissing State governments.
Defection remains a problem, despite the Anti-Defection Law, which has loopholes and lacks a timely disqualification process.
Impact on Federal Structure and Governance
Aligning State elections with Lok Sabha would lead to abbreviated or extended terms, undermining the democratic mandate of State governments.
Midterm falls in State governments could lead to truncated tenures, breaching the principle of “one person, one vote, one value.”
Frequent elections could result in increased costs and administrative burden, disrupting long-term governance.
Need for Systemic Reforms Before ONOE
Systemic reforms are needed to address Article 356 misuse, anti-defection weaknesses, and State instability before implementing ONOE.
ONOE without these reforms could centralize power, weakening State autonomy and threatening India’s federal structure.
Federalism must be respected, as forced alignment of State and national elections could damage India's diversity and plurality.
Without addressing institutional flaws, ONOE may exacerbate political vulnerabilities rather than resolve them.
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