India is a diverse and overpopulated country with 20 crore people still under BPL who cannot afford to squander its scarce resources. The Law Commission, in its 170th report too, asked for the same.
Advantages Of One Nation One Election
- Saving huge amount of taxation money:
India, where elections are held throughout the year, finds lots of money being spent on the expenditure in the conduction of election processes. Almost every month, there is an election in some state. If that can be ceased by conducting a simultaneous election, tons of money will be saved, which can be spent on basic minimum requirements to elevate common people’s lives.
- Difficulty in formulating welfare policies:
The government often finds itself embroiled in preparation for an election that takes away crucial 2 or 3 months of governance. As the government and opposition are busy in campaign, rallies, speeches, processions, they can’t take their eyes off and work on governance issue during this intervening period.
It ultimately affects people at the margin. So if elections are held simultaneously, it would give the government the lèeway to work for the betterment of society during its tenure unhindered by any election or poll-related matters.
- National security:
Conducting an election requires strong and greater mobilisation of central and state police forces, undermining national security. If elections are held simultaneously, the government will have an active requisite force to guard the nation and protect the sovereignty and integrity of India.
Recent Naxal attacks on our CRPF Jawans during the ongoing five state elections speak volumes of how India’s security can be undermined when our force on a large scale is involved in the peaceful conduction of election rather than in guarding our nation.
India, which is vying to become a superpower, can’t realise its dream if it doesn’t bring important institutional and structural reforms. One Nation One Election has the potential to transform India and its way of governance drastically. As the prospects of missing out on SDG targets 2030 looms large, India has a lot more ground to cover to make a real difference in the lives of its billion-plus population.
One Nation One Election is the need of the hour if India is to experience exponential growth and withstand the might of hegemonistic China, which is growing leaps and bounds.