While the government and the opposition are engaged in a heated debate over the much-discussed issue of simultaneous elections in the country, the concept of ‘One Nation, One Elections’ demands careful analysis from policymakers before any proposed amendments to the Constitution.
Now, as the Central government has called for a special session of Parliament on September 18, just days after the completion of the monsoon session, speculations are on the rise that the ‘One Nation One Election’ bill might be tabled before both houses to determine its fate. While the opposition believes that if the bill gets implemented, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will gain an upper hand, as it could lead voters to prioritize national issues in state elections. On the contrary, even if it gets subjected to amendments, the path towards implementation for the authorities will be full of administrative and legislative challenges.
In this context, we present to you all the major facts regarding the ‘One Nation One Election’ row. Meanwhile, we will also delve into what amendments need to be made to pass the bill and how much majority is required to pass the bill in both houses.
Votes Required in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
It is pertinent to note that to pass the ‘One Nation One Election’ bill in Parliament, the government would need a three-fourths majority in both houses, thus posing a serious challenge. There are a total of 539 members in the Lok Sabha, meaning the government would need the support of 404 members in the Lok Sabha to pass the necessary amendments for ‘One Nation One Election.’ Currently, the BJP holds 303 seats in the Lok Sabha.
Likewise, in the Rajya Sabha, the government would need the support of three-fourths of the members, which equals 178 members out of the total 238 members. In the current scenario, if the Congress desires, it can join hands with opposition parties to block this bill in the Rajya Sabha.
Implementing ‘One Nation One Election’ would require several amendments to the Constitution. These amendments would need to be passed in Parliament and also ratified by the legislatures of at least half of the states in the country before the law can be enacted.
‘One Nation One Election’ Signifies a Major Political Shift
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has long been a vocal supporter of the concept. However, its implementation seems to possess several roadblocks.
Implementing ‘One Nation One Election’ could pose a significant challenge to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). While proponents argue that frequent elections in the country create a constant political environment that affects developmental projects, it is important to note that implementing this system would require unanimous decision-making and cannot be imposed unilaterally.
It is pertinent to note that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had initiated discussions on ‘One Nation One Election’ when he came to power at the Centre. The BJP’s 2014 election manifesto also mentions this concept.
14 States’ Support Needed to Pass the Bill
To pass the bill, the bill must also be ratified by the legislatures of at least half of the states. Out of 28 states, support from 15 states is necessary for its passage. It should be noted that while the BJP has governments in 12 states, in six of those states, it holds a majority on its own, and in the remaining six states, it governs in coalition with other parties. In the North-East, the BJP has a strong presence, but in South India, it does not have a government in any state. It is believed that states like Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, where the BJP is not in power currently, could also support this bill.
Implementing this system faces the major challenge of dissolving existing legislative assemblies because in several states, legislative assembly elections coincide with Lok Sabha elections. In such cases, implementing this system may not be easy.
Additional Challenges
Even if the government manages to pass the bill with a three-fourths majority in both houses and gains unanimous support from state legislatures, the ground reality and the practical challenges it poses across such a vast and diverse country like India cannot be underestimated. Many regions in the country are politically sensitive, and conducting simultaneous elections could also pose logistical challenges and unnecessarily prolong the election process.
