One Nation, One Election: Implications for Indian Politics and Governance

03:21 PM Sep 20, 2024 | Afternoon News

What problems will arise if the ``one country, one election'' scheme is implemented? What will be the implications for Indian politics? It is now becoming a topic of discussion across the country.
Last year (2023) elections were held for ten state assemblies. After the end of the government in these states in 2028, elections will be held in 2029 under the new scheme. Until then, caretaker governments or President's rule are likely to continue in those states. Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Telangana, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram are included in this list.
Assembly elections will be held in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and West Bengal in 2026. Elections are coming in 2027 for states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Gujarat. The life span of regimes formed during these years will shrink to less than three years.
With elections to the Delhi Assembly scheduled for February next year, the government set up here is likely to end in four years. However, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, which have completed their elections in the current year, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, which are currently holding elections, and Maharashtra, Bihar and Jharkhand, which are yet to hold elections, are unlikely to be affected.
Rajya Sabha MPs are elected by the Legislative Assembly MLAs. Due to this, the selection of new MPs in the Rajya Sabha seats that fall vacant before 2029 is likely to be delayed.
Thus, many state governments will face a major setback due to the repercussions of bringing in the 'One Nation One Election' scheme. Then various parties including the India Alliance will show strong opposition. It is likely to turn into a political tremor. When implementing a big project, the risks are huge. It is not known how the central government is going to deal with it.