The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, recently approved "One Nation, One Election" Bills. It proposes simultaneous Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
The Constitution Amendment Bill is set to be introduced in the Winter Session of Parliament. Currently, these elections are held separately, leading to logistical challenges and high costs.
Implementing this will require significant constitutional amendments, a two-thirds majority in Parliament and approval from at least half of Indian states.
Supporters argue that joint elections would significantly reduce administrative costs and the high need for security forces. As per media reports, the 2019 Lok Sabha elections cost around ₹60,000 crore.
By holding simultaneous elections, voter engagement can also be improved as people would only need to vote once every five years. This might ensure greater representation across both national and state elections.
The first general elections in 1951-52 were held alongside state polls and simultaneous elections existed in India until 1967 when political instability brought a change.
Critics of One Election, One Nation believe by holding state and national elections together, national issues might dominate local concerns, leaving regional issues underrepresented.
Smaller state-level parties may struggle to compete against national parties, shifting the focus from grassroots issues to broader national agendas.
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