India Moving Towards One Nation-One Election, Took Inspiration from These 7 Countries
India Moving Towards One Nation-One Election, Took Inspiration from These 7 Countries
During political discussions, one often hears that India is a country of elections. Every year, elections are held in some part of the country.
However, this will soon be a thing of the past.
The Union Cabinet has approved the bill related to ‘One Nation One Election.’ It is anticipated that the bill will be introduced in the upcoming winter session of Parliament. Both in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the BJP and its allies hold a majority.
Government Aims for Consensus
Thus, there won’t be any issues in passing the bill. However, the government wants to ensure consensus among all parties and pass the bill after incorporating necessary amendments.India
Although discussions about One Nation-One Election have gained traction in recent years, this is not a first for India. The foundation for this was laid during the time of independence in 1947.
In 1952, during the first general elections, votes for both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections were cast simultaneously. This practice continued for the next four elections, but inconsistencies began to emerge thereafter.
Last Simultaneous Elections in 1967
The last time elections were held under the ‘One Nation-One Election’ format was in 1967. At that time, elections were conducted in one phase across the country except for Uttar Pradesh (then United Provinces), where they were held in four phases.India
The 1967 elections were the fourth general elections since independence. Voting took place for 520 Lok Sabha seats and 3,563 Assembly seats. At the time, Congress was the only ruling party. However, after Jawaharlal Nehru’s death, Indira Gandhi not only faced opposition from allies but also from rising anti-Congress sentiment nationwide.
A New Attempt After 6 Decades
Nearly six decades later, the country is again moving toward One Nation-One Election. However, the path has not been easy. A committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind was formed to prepare the report.
The committee not only studied the election processes in India since independence but also analyzed countries where simultaneous elections are held. These countries include Sweden, South Africa, Belgium, Germany, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan.
Learning from Other Countries
According to the report, South Africa holds National Assembly and Assembly elections simultaneously, while local elections are held separately. In Sweden, parliamentary, county council, and local elections are held together every four years.
Indonesia has also adopted One Nation-One Election, holding presidential, vice-presidential, national, and local elections simultaneously. On February 14, 2024, Indonesia became the first country in the world where 200 million people voted on a single day.IndiaWhy Did Pakistan Name Its Navy Ship After Tipu Sultan? Historian’s Eye-Opening Answer
