One Nation, One Election: Here's what the Constitution says

NEW DELHI: The Centre is considering the possibility of holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly elections in the country. It may even introduce the "One Nation, One Election" Bill in the upcoming special session of Parliament later this month.

The government has also formed a committee headed by former President Ramnath Kovind to explore the feasibility of such an exercise.

While several Union ministers are calling the proposal the "need of the hour", opposition members are accusing the BJP-led government of hatching a conspiracy to advance the general election out of fear of their newly-formed INDIA alliance.



Nonetheless, the debate regarding concurrent elections isn't new.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has made a pitch for simultaneous polls several times in the past. He cited the financial burden of nearly continuous election cycles and their negative impact on development efforts as the key rationale for this proposal.

But what does the Constitution say about "One Nation, One Election"?
According to a brief note prepared by Kishore Desai, former OSD at Niti Aayog & Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), the Constitution does provide sufficient room to make amendments to implement such a reform.

Moreover, elections to Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies were held simultaneously every time between 1951 till 1967.

However, due to the premature dissolution of some state assemblies in 1968 and 1969, the cycle got disrupted.

According to the note, the following provisions of Constitution/Representation of People Act 1951 are relevant to the issue:

o Article 83(2) of the Constitution provides for a normal term of five years for Lok Sabha. Article 172 (1) provides for similar tenure for state legislative assembly from the date of its first sitting;

o Both Lok Sabha and state assemblies do not have a fixed term and can be dissolved earlier;

o But their terms cannot be extended beyond 5 years except in an emergency situation;

o Election Commission of India is empowered to notify elections to both Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies six months prior to the end of the normal terms of the Houses;

o Elections to third-tier (Panchayats/Urban Municipal Bodies) are state subject and hence under the jurisdiction of State Election Commissions.

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