Modi’s 'One Nation, One Election' likely to be implemented soon

The proposal of One Country One Election, which has been under discussion for long in the corridors of parliament, is likely to get implemented during the current tenure of the Narendra Modi government, according to sources cited by a media report.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made a mention of it in his Independence Day speech this year and the government is committed to implementing it, said a report by NDTV quoting sources.

Opposition and practical challenges such as unclear norms for unusual situations, high costs of electronic voting equipment, and coordination issues challenge the pledge.

The government has already constituted a committee, chaired by former President Ramnath Kovind, which has presented its results.

The panel has suggested simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies as a first step, followed by synchronized local body elections within 100 days.

It is expected that the Law Commission will make a recommendation soon.

The Commission is likely to suggest that all three tiers of government—Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local governments such as municipalities and panchayats—hold simultaneous elections beginning in 2029, as well as a framework for unity government in the event of a hung house or no-confidence motion.

PM Modi made a strong argument for "one nation, one election" during his Independence Day speech, claiming that frequent polls were impeding the country's progress.

"The nation has to come forward for 'one nation, one election'," Modi said.

The BJP had also promised "One Nation, One Election" in its manifesto, and government sources indicated they are hoping that all parties will agree to follow it.

However, the Opposition has been resisting the concept citing constitutional concerns.

There will be difficulties in putting it into practice including coordinating election cycles with the least amount of disruption to government, and it is unclear how to handle the breaks that would occur while bringing all states into line with one another, the Opposition has said.

The next course of action in situations such as the dissolution of Houses, President's Rule, or even a hung Assembly or Parliament is also noticeably unclear.

Amidst the clamor surrounding the Lok Sabha election, regional parties have pointed out that their inadequate resources may prevent them from drawing voters' attention to local issues.

The ongoing expense of purchasing electronic voting machines (EVMs) is another issue. The poll panel has estimated that this will come to around ₹10,000 crore per 15 years.