Understanding Constitutional Amendments for “One Nation, One Election” (Jamili Elections) in India

          


                 In recent years, there has been a growing debate in India about the concept of "One Nation, One Election" or Jamili Elections, which aims to synchronize the elections of the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and State Legislative Assemblies. The idea is to streamline the election process and reduce the constant cycle of elections that often disrupts governance, development, and stability. However, implementing simultaneous elections requires significant constitutional amendments to align the terms and conditions of both central and state legislatures. This blog explores the key constitutional provisions that need to be amended and explains the legal, political, and administrative changes required to achieve "One Nation, One Election."

The Concept of One Nation, One Election

        "One Nation, One Election" refers to the simultaneous conduct of elections for both the Lok Sabha (national parliamentary elections) and the State Legislative Assemblies (state-level elections). Currently, elections in India are held at different intervals, which leads to multiple election cycles throughout the year. The primary goals of simultaneous elections are to:

  • Reduce election costs.
  • Minimize the burden on administrative and security forces.
  • Limit the disruption to public services and governance caused by frequent elections.
  • Encourage more stable governance at both the central and state levels.

        While the benefits of this system are widely discussed, achieving it is challenging due to the need for constitutional changes. Various provisions in the Indian Constitution need to be amended to bring the terms of the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies in sync, and give appropriate powers to both the President and Governors to dissolve these bodies simultaneously when necessary.

Key Constitutional Articles that Require Amendments

    Let’s explore the constitutional articles that need to be amended to facilitate Jamili Elections:

1. Article 83 (Lok Sabha Tenure) :

    Current Provision: Article 83 defines the tenure of the **Lok Sabha** as five years from its first meeting, unless dissolved sooner. It establishes that the Lok Sabha cannot extend beyond five years unless there is a state of emergency in the country.

  Amendment Required: To enable simultaneous elections, the tenure of the Lok Sabha must align with the tenure of the State Legislative Assemblies. This means Article 83 would need to be amended to allow flexibility in either extending or shortening the Lok Sabha’s term to ensure that its elections can be held simultaneously with state elections. 

2. Article 83(2) (Early Dissolution of Lok Sabha)

Current Provision: Article 83(2) states that the term of the Lok Sabha is limited to five years unless dissolved earlier by the President.

Amendment Required: Since Jamili Elections require the synchronization of national and state elections, this article needs to be amended to grant the President more explicit powers to dissolve the Lok Sabha early, when required, to conduct elections simultaneously across the country.

3.Article 172(1) (Tenure of State Legislative Assemblies)

Current Provision: Article 172(1) defines the tenure of State Legislative Assemblies as five years from the date of their first sitting. Like the Lok Sabha, their tenure can only be extended under certain emergency provisions.

Amendment Required: For simultaneous elections, this article would need to be amended to allow for the reduction or extension of the term of State Assemblies. This means that if elections are due in any state, but the Lok Sabha election is scheduled a few months later, the state elections could be either delayed or advanced to align with the national election cycle.

4. Article 356 (President’s Rule)

Current Provision: Article 356 allows the imposition of **President’s Rule** in a state if there is a failure of the constitutional machinery in that state. This article allows the President to assume the functions of the state government and dissolve the State Assembly if necessary.

Amendment Required: While Article 356 does not directly relate to Jamili Elections, it plays a critical role in managing situations where governance breaks down. In cases where state governments are unable to function and President’s Rule is imposed, simultaneous elections may need to be scheduled. Therefore, amendments or guidelines may be required to ensure that President’s Rule is aligned with the timing of Jamili Elections.

5. Article 324 (Election Commission Powers)

Current Provision: Article 324 vests the **Election Commission of India** with the power to supervise, direct, and control the entire election process in India, including elections to the Parliament, State Legislatures, and offices of the President and Vice-President.

Amendment Required: While the Election Commission already holds significant authority over elections, an amendment might be necessary to grant it additional powers and resources to manage simultaneous elections on a national scale. Managing elections for both the Lok Sabha and multiple State Assemblies simultaneously would require enhanced logistical support, manpower, and technology. This would ensure that the Election Commission is adequately equipped to handle the complexity of Jamili Elections.

6. Article 83(2) and Article 172(1) (Powers to Dissolve Assemblies and Lok Sabha)

Current Provision: Under these articles, the President (for Lok Sabha) and the Governors (for State Assemblies) have the authority to dissolve the respective legislative bodies before their term ends.

Amendment Required: These articles would need to be amended to give the President and Governors the power to dissolve both the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies simultaneously when needed. This would ensure that elections can be held at the same time across the nation without violating the current provisions of the Constitution that restrict arbitrary dissolution.


Challenges of Constitutional Amendments for Jamili Elections

    Implementing "One Nation, One Election" is a complex process that faces several challenges:

1. Legal Hurdles: Amending the Constitution requires a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament. Additionally, since these amendments affect the states, ratification by at least half of the State Legislatures is required.

2. Political Will: Different political parties may have differing opinions on the concept of simultaneous elections. Some regional parties may oppose the idea, fearing that national issues may overshadow local concerns during elections.

3. Administrative Logistics: Conducting elections simultaneously for both the Lok Sabha and all State Assemblies would be a massive logistical challenge. It would require significantly more polling stations, security personnel, and administrative resources than what is currently deployed during regular election cycles.

4. Impact on Governance: If a government at either the state or national level collapses before its term, it could disrupt the synchronization process. Special provisions would need to be created to handle such scenarios without disturbing the Jamili Election cycle.

 Conclusion

"One Nation, One Election" holds the potential to bring about a more streamlined electoral process, reduce costs, and ensure political stability in India. However, the success of this concept hinges on making several key amendments to the Indian Constitution. Articles like 83, 83(2), 172(1), 356, and 324 need to be modified to align the election cycles of the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. Moreover, the legal, political, and logistical challenges associated with Jamili Elections require careful planning and coordination between the central and state governments, as well as the Election Commission of India.

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