Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Debate on ‘one nation, one election' that was published in Newsband

Debate on ‘one nation, one election’

At an all-party meeting on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he wanted a debate on “one nation, one election”, saying a lot of time, energy and money was spent on holding elections as each State goes to the polls at different times.

“A proper response on such a sensitive and serious subject like the ‘one country, one election’ in such a short time would not do justice to the subject it deserves. The matter requires consultations with constitutional experts, elections experts and above all the party members.” This was Mamata Bannerjee’s reaction.

In the last election of 2019, estimate of rough expenditure including all political parties was around Rs. 50000 crores. Should these parties save money of the country? Do they harbor fear of losing election? Don't they expect vote from a countryman on basis of their work? Does only money matter in winning an election?

It is estimated that recently held Lok Sabha election had cost about 60 k cr. Election to state assembly and local bodies cost about 40 k cr. Thus an election costs about 100 k cr and services of tens of cr polling officials and security forces are required. Further due to moral code of conduct, several welfare schemes are deferred for considerable period. One nation on poll will help in decisive mandate to a party. Support to parties in local election could be in contrast in state or national election. Thus proposed agenda is a welcome gesture for development.

But there are people who say that there is no need for this. Centre will have a control and the people at large will be the losers, they argue. They say that it is not workable for the following reasons: 1 election commission is incompetent to hold such a huge exercise e.g. it conducted parliament elections in 7-phases  2 it does not have sufficient manpower including security 3 what about no confidence motion which is a national right; if one government falls due to no confidence motion option is governer rule or disband all other governments for no fault of theirs; to conduct fresh elections all over India  just due to one motion in one state it will be a hugely expensive and laborious process.

It is true that certain parties don’t want the country to save money at the cost of tax payers’ money. It is true that simultaneous elections can save thousands of crores of tax payers’ money but we have to know our nation is far different from other nations and USA where they have g.election once in four years, and if the ruling party fails, it can be thrown out in four years. India is unique, mainly no correction can be made for five long years. The centre thus gaining power for long five years, holding state election serves as a good check-mate and warning for the Centre. No change should be made on the 70 year practice, notwithstanding the overloading of election commission. It is duty bound to keep the commission engaged through the years on.

But all the Indian politicians should remember one thing. If just to oppose the ruling party they will go against everything it says, the country will suffer because of their egos.