In India almost every month one or the other state is setting tones for an election. The cost which is incurred during campaign process is very high. Current Indian election system is hampering in the growth of India as well as in policy making also. Moreover, the procedure is also very time consuming and chaotic.

After One Nation, One Tax, PM Modi is all set to build consensus on an ambitious reform called: One Nation, One Election (Lok Sabha & Vidhan Sabha elections held at once). Former President Pranab Mukherjee also showed support to this initiative.

Recently, Election Commission has said it is ready to conduct the elections at once after September, 2018. This reignited the debate - some opposing, some favoring and some giving solutions to the problems (Ex: SY Quaraishi, Former CEC).

Advantages:

1. Cost Savings -

The election process is not only tedious and hectic, but also expensive. Each party spends so much of money in every election. By opting for One India, One Election, we can save huge amount of money which can be used for other schemes.

If they make only one election for both Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly seats. Government will use all its expenses to woo voters, rather than using partially based on the region in which election is to be conducted.

2. Time Saving -

Half of the year is spent by the parties to focus for the next election of one or the other state. Time is wasted on designing strategies and discussing the actions of the opposition parties.

The name calling and blame game takes a lot of time that could rather be used for productive policy criticism.

3. Vote Bank Appeasement -

With elections around the corner, most political parties resort to gimmicks to win or destroy the reputation of other parties. They formulate policies only those which would earn an advantage for the vote bank and in turn, help in elections. For instance, road construction and infrastructure development seem to occur only when elections are around the corner. Most importantly, people are tired of this kind of appeasement.

The fear of losing voters, politicians prevent the passage of long-term useful policies but promote those which give immediate dividends.

4. Hampers Policy Formulation -

Policies should be formulated without thinking about the votes being lost or won. Policies should be formulated so that the destitute and downtrodden are able to benefit from its fruits. However, due to constant elections policy makers are only concerned about winning votes but not about the welfare of underprivileged.

5. Reducing Vices -

Casteism, communalism, corruption and bias is seen almost every election. This will only stop when the elections are held in common and the odds of winning or once and for all to lose prevail. The remaining duration of his career, he would not try to stir up the evil that is destroying the peace of the nation.

Challenges:

1. Not possible -

Lok Sabha elections along with elections to assembly and panchayats is not as easy as it looks like. It will have various complications as the villages and the cities together gear for voting.

There may also be shortage of administrative staff, equipment, logistics and security.

Less care at the voting centers may further incite trouble and corrupt processes being carried out unchecked. Ex: booth capturing, rigging.

2. Expenditure can still be reduced -

By bringing a strict limit on election expenses for all parties.

Transparency in funding can help in making parties accountable and thereby, reducing the expenditure.

State funded elections will be an even better option in reducing the costs.

3. Politicians may become complacent -

Politicians are kept on their toes when they are regularly worried about the routine elections where they will be accountable.

They know that they are responsible for the actions of his party members and something goes wrong, they will be held responsible. This fear is good to keep them under control.

Reducing the number of elections would make them lazy for the rest of the term and suddenly become hyperactive during the election year.

5. National & State issues -

When both the elections are clubbed, national issues may dominate over state issues and dictate the mood of both state and national votes. State or local issues may take a backseat, which would otherwise be crucial.

6. Constitutional Amendments -

To pass these amendments, they require special majorities in Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha. This would be a challenging task for the Govt. to build consensus among various political outfits, which have certain biases.

Solutions:

• Elections can be held over a period of time (two months or so), this would give ample time to provide staff, security and equipment. Logistics can also be managed to conduct elections without any hiccups.
• Politicians’ complacency can be addressed by having mid-term elections, where voters in a constituency have the right to reject the minister. This would make them accountable for what they have promised in the manifesto. Similar solution was proposed by BJP MP from Philbit, Varun Gandhi. It is also duly addressed when Zilla Parishad, Mandal Level & Gram Panchayat elections are held at different times.
• Indian voters are quite intelligent in voting. They wouldn’t do any mistake in getting carried away by national issues. They would certainly vote for someone who represents them and voices their problems effectively.

Conclusion:

Apart from having one election, other issues of funding & corruption and reforms like Gram Panchayat heads, Mandal Parishad heads & Zilla Parishad heads should vote to elect Lok Sabha members (this would allow the MP to work more on framing policies rather than looking after each and every problem - proposed by TRS MP from Mahbubnagar, Jithender Reddy) should be equivocally addressed.

We needed a debate on our decades old election system, the time is right to build a consensus and bring the necessary reforms.