One Nation One election proposal in Lok Sabha
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4228
TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 20th DECEMBER 2024
One Nation One Election
4228. Thiru Dayanidhi Maran:
Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:
(a) the manner in which the One Nation One election proposal ensure that the federal autonomy of States is maintained, especially if elections are held simultaneously;
(b) the steps taken/proposed to be taken to address logistical, technological, and legal challenges to unify electoral rolls required for common electoral roll alignment between the ECI and State commissions;
(c) whether the Government studied the potential impact of simultaneous elections on voter behaviour and engagement, especially regarding the risk of national parties’ election expenditure overpowering regional parties and the subsequent effect of money power in holding free and fair elections; and
(d) whether Election Commission is currently prepared to manage simultaneous elections, in terms of infrastructure, manpower and technology, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)
(a): The Government has introduced in Lok Sabha on 17-12-2024, a Bill, namely, the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 which seeks to insert a new article 82A and to amend the articles 83 and 172 of the Constitution and another Bill, namely the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, so as to enable the holding of simultaneous elections to the House of the People and Legislative Assemblies together which does not affect the federal autonomy of States. Moreover, the first four General elections to the House of the People and all the State Legislative Assemblies were held simultaneously. Hence, adoption of One Nation, One Election in India is in line with the principles of collaborative federalism.
(b): The Government had constituted a High Level Committee (HLC) under the Chairmanship of Shri Ramnath Kovind, former President, to examine the issue of simultaneous elections and make recommendations for holding simultaneous elections in the country. The HLC for the purpose of, common electoral roll alignment between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and State Commissions, recommended that article 325 may suitably be amended to the effect that the ECI shall make the electoral roll and Elector’s Photo Identity Card in consultation with the State Election Commissions. The Report of the HLC has since been accepted by the Government.
(c): The HLC in Chapter 7 of its Report, while explaining the rationale of simultaneous election has discussed the impact of simultaneous elections on regional parties. The same is available at website https://onoe.gov.in/HLC-Report.
(d): The HLC during its consultation process also consulted with the Election Commission of India which in turn had submitted its written response detailing the various requirements for conduct of simultaneous elections. The response of the Election Commission is at pages 3552 -3573 of Volume V of the Annexure of the HLC Report, which is available on its website at https://onoe.gov.in/HLC-Report- annexure.
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