This is my submission for the National Argumentative Essay Writing Competition for Young Scholars on the topic of ‘One Nation, One Election’. It was organized by the Indian Council of Social Science Research in 2024. While I didn’t win, this was certainly an illuminating mental exercise that made me critically analyze the present political structures of the Republic of Bharat. I was so intensely absorbed in the research that I just had to share this wonderful essay with the world.

A Case for Simultaneous Elections

An electoral fever dream looms over an overworked public university professor who struggles to balance her academic responsibilities and her democratic sensibilities. It haunts the politician who wants to promote progress in his constituency but is afraid that he won’t be afforded the chance before his post is under question again. The voter, already fatigued by failed promises of efficient governance, reels from another round, forgetting if it is the centre, state, or the local ward office that is wooing her this time. Forever campaigning, never delivering, this limbo exerts its influence over the democratic spirit of India. There’s only one way to pierce through this maelstrom of electoral bureaucracy and exhaustive politicking: the implementation of simultaneous elections across India, colloquially known as ‘One Nation, One Election’.

Spearheaded by Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in the Bhartiya Janta Party’s election manifesto in 2024, this resolve seems like a core tenet among the famed trio of so-called centralizing and unifying policy agendas. After a while, the propositions for a uniform civil code, simultaneous elections, and streamlined governance do start to appear as capitalistic decolorizers poised against the fabric upon which the many socialistic colors of Bharat are dyed. However, simultaneous elections have precedence in the country during the first four general election cycles in 1952, 1957, 1962, and 1967; only suffering a decline after the failure of certain state governments. Therefore, it is not a novel idea but one that is rooted in the very conception of an ideal India. This elucidates the fact that the problem does not lie with the concept, but with its execution. The scope for electoral reform is high against the trifecta of anti-federal, anti-democratic, and anti-nationalistic arguments that ring hollow before the pragmatic principles of simultaneous elections in India.

The ideological battle involving various political principles and processes often dissolves into a stalemate fueled by inaction, which is why the mammoth decision of subjecting the nation to a single-phase election seems like a difficult task. However, the positive repercussions of this decision shall echo far and wide into the administrative superstructure of India, accompanied of course by some growing pains.

There are three fundamental reasons why ‘One Nation, One Election’ can be considered an essential stimulant to shake off the cobwebs of mistrust and fatigue within the current state of Indian elections.

Rational Frugality

Firstly, frugality and rationality form the obvious outer shell of the defense presented in all forums of discussion. Resource management in terms of cost, governance, time, and administrative convenience leads to the ultimate social cohesion of a well-oiled bureaucratic machine that functions proficiently, allowing policymakers to focus their attention on governance rather than campaigning. It is estimated that the average cost of holding the Lok Sabha general elections is around ₹4,000 crores for the Central government. The cost for the Vidhan Sabha elections varies substantially depending on the size of the state and the monetary calculations for the expenditure political parties make in their campaigns are dizzying, to say the least. The High-level Committee on Simultaneous Elections constituted under the Chairmanship of Shri Ram Nath Kovind, former President of India, with its report comprising 18,626 pages and 191 days of stringent research does very strongly point to the many manhours and finances that would be conserved with simultaneous elections. Apex business organizations like the CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, and eminent economists have also weighed in with their views on the economic repercussions of asynchronous elections. Advocating the pecuniary imperative of simultaneous elections on account of fueling inflation and slowing down the economy, the grave consequences on economic growth, quality of public expenditure, educational and other outcomes, besides upsetting social harmony, have also been highlighted.

While these claims are countered by the logistical improbabilities of organizing such a massive undertaking in India which could charge the exchequer with excesses that the state might not be able to bear, the overall preservation of the country’s resources is undeniable. Jobs generated during the numerous elections that happen in different parts of the country are easily offset by an organized, efficient, and well-implemented election cycle, once every set number of years. In fact, this streamlines the cost on a massive level (Centre for Media Studies, 2019​).

Time and Time Again

Secondly, the middle layer of the argument is encapsulated by the concept of time. With at least 5-6 state elections happening annually, political parties spend most of their time and energy in a permanent state of campaign flux. It not only acts as a hindrance to policy-making and governance but also paralyzes the state’s functioning towards development the minute the Model Code of Conduct is enforced. Lasting for 45-60 days this marks a period where no new schemes or projects can be announced by the Centre and the concerned State governments. Nitin Gadkari has said, “Consolidating elections can lead to significant savings and efficiency, enabling better governance”, which very aptly indicates that the age-old principle of “time is money” being applied here. The administrative machinery in the districts slows down during elections where paramilitary forces are deployed, snatching time away from more sensitive areas where the defense of the nation is paramount. Furthermore, frequent elections divert the attention of the government from governance to electioneering, leading to the immobilization of local administration (Journal of Legal Studies and Research, 2023). The sunken cost of this lost time is immeasurable.

This chryselephantine process is defended by the proponents of federalism and the slow, deliberate power of democracy. However, the degree of polarization in this process of electioneering and campaigning that is supposed to uphold the fundamental federal value of the Indian Constitution, instead causes fissures in the collective societal mind that take years to mend, endangering another core pillar of fraternity enshrined within it. This dangerous interplay of dominos where one cannot exist without the other is not healthy for a nation of 1.4 billion that already lumbers under the sheer weight of its population. What most of the opposing voices fail to heed is that a solution has been proposed to preserve the federal spirit of India and constitute simultaneous elections, well, simultaneously – a two-step approach where the first phase would involve the elections for the House of the People and the State Legislative Assemblies followed by the elections to the Municipalities and the Panchayats within one hundred days (Supremo Amicus Journal, 2021). A single electoral roll and electoral photo identity cards shall be used for all three tiers of government. This is very much in accordance with the Constitution of India and would require bare minimum amendments, thus safeguarding its federal character.

Turnout is Fair Play

Third, and most importantly, at the centre of it all, is the simple fact that a single electoral process would make the entire country observe it with heightened awareness (Indian Journal of Political Science, 2020). Simultaneous elections held in large countries such as Brazil and Indonesia are a testament to the increased levels of voter turnout when the public is not burdened with concerns of multiple elections that ultimately do not lead to any satisfactory improvements in their lives. The Law Commission of India has conducted extensive consultations which have led to the suggestion that ‘One Nation, One Election’ can lead to reduced levels of election-related disruptions. However, these would be countered by the significant constitutional amendments that would be necessary to synchronize the electoral cycles of the Lok Sabha and state assemblies​. Having a fixed tenure of five years for the Lok Sabha and State assemblies will therefore require changes to Articles 83, 85, 172, and 174 along with the amendment of Article 356. Arguments have been made that regional issues would be eclipsed in this endeavor to kindle productive voter behavior. Nationalistic jingoism and grandstanding would subdue local voices demanding change at a smaller scale as parties would divert their attention to issues that could incite better overall numbers. However, with one single-phase election, the chance to actively replicate this strategy which has been seen in every election at different tiers of governance would reduce drastically. Inadvertently, the media, the Election Commission of India, and the many other partakers in the elections would be hawk-eyed and attentive towards this single process, minimizing the chance of malpractices. Only if all the various stakeholders that are responsible for upholding free and fair elections in the country agree to increase their vigilance considerably.

And at Last…

In conclusion, between governance and federalism, change and permanence, India stands at a crossroads. Like any other evolved democracy, questions it must ask of itself are being pondered over right now, and rightly so. The country must decide the best path forward. The nation cannot shy away from the construction of a hydroelectric dam, just because there might be fear of it being breached one day. The time to act is now and simultaneous elections are the way to cut the elephantine excesses of the Indian electoral process. The electoral fever dream of fatigued governance must be broken.