Introduction:

With the approval of the Cabinet, the Central Government, now in principle, is in a position to make moves in the Parliament to enact necessary Laws and other formalities to introduce the recommendations of the Committee for 'One Nation One Vote' in the country.

Brief History:

This concept is nothing new in India's Election System. It was in vogue up to 1967, then after due to various political turbulences and differences, the Governments of many States could not complete their duration which made it necessary to hold elections in different dates than the scheduled time. Since then, the 'One Election One Time' got a jolt. In the meantime, many Regional Parties sprung up and some of them became powerful in many States while some became successful in forming Government independently but in other states, the local parties together formed the government. Thus a new Political System took birth in the country. The Centre is ruled by a National Party and the state by other parties. Centre-state relations in many cases started developing stress and sometimes the relation reached so bitter that those apogees saw the implementation of the President's Rule and subsequent dismissal of the Government which led to furore for a federal structure of the nation.

Even in the late '70s, when the Janata Party at the Centre, failed to continue for five years the Parliament election was also held much earlier to that of the actual date but other State Governments were running as per their normal schedule. Thus, from 1967 onward, barring a few cases, the election for State and Centre could not be held together.

Reasons for holding the election together:

The separate election for both Parliament and State has many disadvantages of which Cost is a major element. And now if a single poll can be designed then with the same manpower, logistics, stationery, same administration, the cost can be reduced to a substantial amount.

Moreover, people harassment also will be less because election propaganda alongwith procession, sloganeering, public meetings, door to door-to-door campaigns will be practically halved. The less Public Meetings and less Shouting will give relief to patients, students, officegoers, street vendors and to businessmen. On the one hand government expenditure will be less on the other hand country's economy also will go on rolling. The development work of the nation also will have less suffering and seamless work will continue. The commuters also will respite for less jam in the movement of vehicles. But many challenges need to be overcome if the country desires to have a single election only.

Challenges to Overcome:

India is a very vast country with a diverse climate and culture. People of this country live on plain land as well as in stiff mountainous terrain with many residents in remote deserts and some in deep sea islands. It is really a challenging job to reach all at a single point in time because of the following few factors:

The most important is when the election will be held. In Summer or in Winter? Because, in other times, like during the Rainy Season the election is not possible for the reason of incessant rain, cloud burst rain, landslides, and floods which affect hills to plain lands. So, April, May, June, and July will not be the ideal time for holding such an election. Moreover during April, and May the torrid region of Rajasthan, Gujarat experience so hot that one does not dare to go out of the home during the daytime, so, then an election during this time will get an eerie call from the people across.

August, September and October also experience inclement weather in many parts such as Bihar, Jharkhand and the Ganges Belt of Bengal. Andhra, Tamil Nadu and Orissa also become the victim of torrential climate at this time. So, it is also a difficult season for an election to be conducted. Moreover, from September to December people are in a festive mood. The Western and some Southern Parts of India celebrate Ganesha Puja, then after whole India especially, Bengal submerged in Durga Puja fervor which is followed by Dussera in Northern India and Kali Puja, Diwali from East to West to Northern India. So, during these months one cannot go in for any election. December and January are the month of celebrating Xmas and New Year. So, during these two months also a wise, intelligent bureaucrat will never ask the countrymen for any election. The horrific rain of Kerala at different times of the calendar also needs to be kept in mind before fixing the schedule. Now, the months of February and March are left to consider.

It is hoped that the committee headed by our ex-Hon'ble President, Mr Kovind, definitely, considering all conditions, suggested the possible time for the election, which the entire nation will find suitable from hill to plains and deep islanders at Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.

The second challenges to arrange the huge para military personnel require for election. Nowadays, due to extremist activities and political rivalry, one cannot think of holding the election without military force which was not the case earlier. At that time only State Police were deployed to supervise security but at present Para Military Force in large numbers found essential for a smooth and fair election. So, to hold the election at a Single Point of Time, the country needs a huge number of armed, disciplined forces which may be a difficult proposition for the Election Commission to arrange for.

These guards are required to be committed to their jobs and should be impartial in discharging their duty which ECI needs. Now, due to the Government Policy, even in our Army, recruitment of contractual soldiers concept have been introduced in the name of 'Agni Veer' which drew lot of flaks from a different quarter, then how a dedicated force of such huge number of disciplined Para Military Force can be arranged by ECI? Recently, the Hon'ble Supreme Court in its observation of the Rape and Murder Case at R G Kar Medical College Doctor, Kolkata, made clear that Security Staff should be Permanent and well trained Employees because in this case it was found a Contractual Cop bearing the designation of Civic Volunteer was a prime suspect. So, honouring the wish of the Hon'ble Chief Justice of India, if Civic Volunteer is to be removed then definitely, it is presumed that there will not be any temporary soldier engaged in election activity.

Now, again the question will be raised that after the election what these huge number of forces will do? They cannot go in for International Border Duty because it is assigned to other different groups. There is nowadays no growth of Government Factories noticed. The existing many government companies either are being closed or have been squeezed in size or have been hived off. For this, the requisition of the Para Military Forces for guarding the government property is also going less day by day. So, it will be difficult to use such huge forces in a proper way after the election.

Now, if ECI, assessing all these, goes on with the idea of conducting polls with hired forces from private houses then, the free and fair election will remain be in question.

Again, hypothetically, if we assume that ECI receives the regular permanent security personnel from the different units then that also will create an alarming situation because India, at present, does not have good relations with most of its neighbours. China, and Pakistan, are already known threats across borders. Myanmar found instigating in Manipur. Sri Lanka and Maldives are more inclined to China and Bangladesh, of late, showing disregard and resentment for India. So, in this condition, the country cannot make its border weak by diverting soldiers for the Nation's Poll. Then ECI and the Government have to design proper military force without making any dent to our sovereignty.

Even by properly arranging soldiers, the country if moves towards its destined aim then the most interesting part will be to see how the Central Government will dismiss the elected State and Union Territory Govts. without hurting the nation's sacred Constitution.

If the State Legislatures are dissolved before the date, then will it not be demeaning the public who voted for their government for the welfare of the State for some stipulated period? Will this approach not be contrary to Individual Freedom that is enshrined in the Constitution? Is it possible to introduce such 'One Nation One Vote' without amendment of the Constitution?

Again there is a fear from a section of Political Analysts, that by holding such an election, the existence of Local Political Parties may be in danger. The National Party who are vying for Delhi's crown can influence the Legislative election also with their National narratives and thus may gulp the minnows and eliminate them from the fray which may again give spin to unrest.

Conclusion:

It is hoped that the Committee definitely considered all these points and made specific suggestions, honouring the federal structure of the country.

It is hoped that the Committee kept faith in the Constitution and suggested for amendment.

The amendment itself is a long process. It requires long deliberations in the Parliament. After that, apart from completing many other technicalities, the proposal can be taken forward for making law only after getting Two-thirds majority votes on the floor of Parliament which the present government does not have at the moment, so, it is not clear how this dream of One Vote will come true in this tenure?

If, for argument's sake, taken for granted that after framing the law, this new vote system sailed successfully then definitely we can think proudly about holding the election of Urban Civic Bodies and Rural Panchayats together in the Second Phase, which is already in the thinking process of the Government and thus a radical change can be achieved with many Tangible and Intangible benefits.

.    .    .