What Is 'One Nation, One Election' As Cabinet Approves Draft | Explained

The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the 'One Nation, One Election' plan, paving the way for draft legislation to be introduced in Parliament. According to sources, the bill could be tabled during the ongoing Winter Session.

The decision was made during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government aims to hold extensive consultations on the proposed legislation, which is likely to be referred to a parliamentary committee for further discussion.

Photo Credit: PTI

Additionally, sources indicated that the government is eager to engage with Speakers of various state legislative assemblies through the committee to build consensus on the plan.

Progressing with the 'One Nation, One Election' initiative, the government had, in September, accepted the recommendations of a high-level committee tasked with planning phased simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies.

The committee, led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, outlined 11 key recommendations following a nationwide consensus-building effort.

Key Recommendations of the 'One Nation, One Election' Panel

1. Frequent elections throughout the year adversely affect the economy, polity, and society. The panel recommended reintroducing simultaneous elections to mitigate these issues.

2. In the first phase, election dates for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies will be synchronised. Municipal and panchayat elections will subsequently be aligned within 100 days.

3. Following a general election, the President may issue a notification designating the date for the Lok Sabha's first sitting as the 'appointed date', maintaining alignment of elections.

4. Newly constituted state assemblies will have their terms shortened to align with the next general elections.

5. The establishment of an implementation group is recommended to oversee the execution of these reforms effectively.

6. The panel suggests the introduction of Article 324A to enable simultaneous elections for panchayats and municipalities and proposes amending Article 325 to establish a unified voter roll and photo ID card for all elections.

7. In case of a hung house or a no-confidence motion, new elections will be conducted, but the term of the newly elected body will align with the next general election.

8. The first phase will include simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, followed by municipal and panchayat elections within 100 days of the general elections.

9. For a hung house or no-confidence motion, the newly elected Lok Sabha will serve the remainder of the previous term. State assemblies will continue until the Lok Sabha's term ends unless dissolved earlier.

10. The Election Commission is advised to plan ahead for procuring essential equipment like EVMs and VVPATs to ensure smooth election management.

11. A unified voter roll and ID card system is proposed for all elections. This will require a constitutional amendment, subject to ratification by the states.