One Nation, One Election: What Did The Law Commission Suggest In 2018 Draft Report?

The debate around holding simultaneous elections in India began in 2018, when the Law Commission of India suggested that it would be a solution to the country's constant election cycle. These recommendations proposed that conducting simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies could be the solution to alleviate the country's perpetual election cycle.

The draft report, submitted to the Union Law Ministry, articulated that holding concurrent elections for the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies would yield several benefits. It would save public funds, reduce the burden on the administrative apparatus and security forces, and enhance the effective implementation of government policies. Additionally, simultaneous polls were anticipated to allow the country's administration to focus more on development-related endeavors rather than electioneering.

However, the report also cautioned that organizing simultaneous elections was not feasible within the existing framework of the Constitution.

In 2018, the Law Commission of India, under the leadership of Justice BS Chauhan, underscored the impracticality of simultaneous elections within the current constitutional framework. To facilitate this concept, the commission recommended at least "five Constitutional amendments" that would require ratification by at least 50 percent of the states.

The draft report identified issues like motions of no confidence and premature dissolution of state assemblies as major obstacles to holding simultaneous elections. To address these challenges, the commission suggested replacing a "no-confidence motion" with a "constructive vote of no-confidence." Under this arrangement, the government could only be removed if there was confidence in an "alternate government," as outlined by the panel.

Furthermore, in the event of mid-term elections, the commission proposed that the new Lok Sabha or state Assembly would serve only the "remainder of the previous term" rather than the entire five-year term.