'One Nation, One Election': What it means for the country
What's the big deal?
Image credit -Google
While Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections are held every five years—or earlier if a legislature is dissolved due to any reason—their tenures are not synchronized and are separated by months and years.
Image credit -Google
History behind 'One Nation, One Election'
Image credit -Google
Notably, the first general elections in independent India were held in 1951-52. Simultaneous elections remained the norm until 1967 before being disrupted by the premature dissolution of some state assemblies in 1968 and 1969, along with the Lok Sabha in 1970.
Image credit -Google
Drawbacks of separate elections
Image credit -Google
Conducting elections separately demands making arrangements repeatedly, incurring huge costs.
Image credit -Google
What are predicted cons of simultaneous elections?
Image credit -Google
While simultaneous elections may solve the current pitfalls, those opposing it fear it would undermine regional parties and pose challenges to federalism.
Image credit -Google
Image credit -Google
Constitutional and federal challenges
Image credit -Google
Implementing simultaneous elections will require amendments to the Representation of the People Act and other parliamentary procedures to arbitrarily synchronize the terms of state legislative assemblies with those of the Lok Sabha.