New Delhi (Agency): Former Chief Election Commissioner of India, T.S. Krishnamurthy, voiced his views on the “One Nation, One Election” proposal, stating that while the idea is attractive, it is also difficult to put into practice. “It’s good to consider, examine the possibility,” he said in a phone interview about the government’s new committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind to explore this concept.
According to Krishnamurthy, both pros and cons come with holding simultaneous elections. “There are many advantages in the sense you will not be wasting so much time in campaigning and all that. Probably, election expenditure will also come down,” he pointed out. In his opinion, simultaneous elections could be a method to save both money and time for the nation.
He also noted that in the past, when some states held their assembly elections concurrently with national elections, voters tended to make different choices for state and national leaders. “There is enough evidence to indicate that the voters vote differently in the state elections and Parliamentary elections even if they are held together,” Krishnamurthy added.
However, he cautioned that implementing this concept is not straightforward. “Holding of simultaneous elections is theoretically very attractive, but practically there are a lot of challenges to be met,” he said. When asked about building a political consensus around this idea, Krishnamurthy agreed it would be challenging. “Absolutely. It will be challenging; there is no doubt about that,” he remarked.
One potential path to implementing simultaneous elections, Krishnamurthy suggested, is to start by “bunching” all state elections to be held in a single year. “That at least will reduce the tension of having too many elections in a year,” he said.
However, the most significant obstacle lies in the need for a constitutional amendment. “Because as of now it’s based on the Westminster style so that a government can be voted out of office anytime. That has to be changed,” Krishnamurthy advised. He proposed that if a government is voted out, a new one should be voted in immediately to ensure a fixed term for the house.
He acknowledged that apart from this constitutional challenge, there are logistical issues like financial outlays and manpower, but considers these surmountable. “But the constitutional issue is the most important challenge. Unless that is addressed and quickly implemented, it will take quite some time,” Krishnamurthy concluded.
The concept of “One Nation, One Election” is gaining attention and stirring debates. While it promises efficiency and cost-saving, it also presents considerable challenges, both logistical and constitutional. As opinions divide and the committee led by the former President begins its work, the future of this proposal remains to be seen.