One Nation One poll - The problem and solution

October 31, 2020
Devinder Dhingra

Satyam (The Truth)

Our present central Government has talked about the concept of ‘One nation one poll’ a number of times. Good, isn’t it? Sounds nice. The whole India goes for even the state assembly elections at one time. The Government and leaders can work with more freedom after the election result since they can have quick and tough decision-making without worrying about being in the election-mode for at least the first three years in office. Holding the election for all the state assemblies along with Loksabha (parliament) elections in one go would also save the election cost.

There are certainly the pros. But at the same time the idea not only has technical glitches but also creates a question mark on accountability. Technically, if no party emerges as the majority to form the government in any state with or without alliance, the only choice we have at present is to go for the elections again. And it may lead to a catch-22 situation. In addition, what if an elected government falls in the middle of their tenure. Shall we wait for the remaining period without a state government until the time of one-nation-one-poll occurs again?

On the accountability part, an elected government may be lazy and even autocratic for first three years as they would not be worried about facing the voters again.

Therefore, the idea, though has a reasonable weight, needs brain-storming to achieve the desired result.

Shivam (The Solution)

As far as the technical solution is concerned, please have a look at the Shivam section of my article

‘How to get rid of the Alliance Politics?’

which resolves the problems associated with the concept of ‘One nation One poll’ as well. If the solution given there is implemented there is no need of re-election in majority of the cases and even if there is re-election the new government would be formed within six months and the tenure of the new government would end along with the other states. Thus, the elections can be held simultaneously in the whole country for even state assemblies.

In fact, ‘One Nation One poll’ can only be achieved if the solution provided in the other article for the Alliance politics or similar such thing is implemented.

Do we have a solution for the accountability part?

Yes, there is. We can hold the parliament elections at one time and hold the state elections for the entire country in the middle of the tenure of the central Government i.e. after two and a half years from the time the parliament elections are held. This shall fix accountability on the central Government as it would know the state elections would happen after two and a half years and also on the state Governments as they would know the center elections are scheduled in the middle of their tenure.

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