On 1st March, a significant change is coming in India's election process. The central government has planned to take steps towards 'One Nation, One Election' before 2029, but the full implementation of this proposal will take until 2034. Under this proposal, in 2034, elections for the Lok Sabha and all state assemblies will be held together. The government has prepared a detailed roadmap for this change, focusing on public awareness campaigns and other aspects.
What is the Objective of 'One Nation, One Election'?
'One Nation, One Election' aims to simplify and reduce the cost of the election process. This will reduce administrative costs and eliminate the repeated consumption of resources that occurs due to frequent elections. It will also address the challenges related to the frequent gaps between elections, potentially increasing public engagement and voter turnout.
How Will it Be Implemented?
The central government has already started working on this proposal, and several steps are being taken. After 2029, the government will launch a public campaign involving social organizations, NGOs, and intellectuals to promote the idea. A task force, led by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has been formed to work on this initiative. Additionally, a PowerPoint presentation of 17 slides has been prepared, which will be shared with the public.
This change will not only reduce administrative costs but also lead to improvements in governance. Examples from other countries show that holding elections together leads to greater stability and better coordination. Moreover, it will improve the coordination between central and state governments in policy-making.
Lok Sabha and Assembly Elections Equation
In 2034, Lok Sabha and all state assembly elections will be held simultaneously. Elections in states like Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim will coincide with the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. The term of the assemblies in these states will be extended until 2034. If any assembly is dissolved before 2034, its election will be held in the same year, once the term is completed.
Discussion on Returning to Ballot Papers
Recently, the issue of returning to ballot papers was raised in the joint committee of Parliament. However, the ministry clarified that the suggestion to reintroduce the ballot paper system is not part of the committee’s review. The committee's work focuses solely on reviewing amendments to the Constitution and Union Territory laws to make them suitable for holding simultaneous elections.
Government's Public Awareness Campaign
The government has decided to launch a widespread public outreach campaign regarding this proposal. RSS and other organizations will be involved in this campaign to help explain the benefits of the plan to the public. Furthermore, public organizations will be urged to send suggestions and letters to the committee to improve the bill and ensure it is acceptable across all sections of society.