One Nation One Election

A high-powered committee was set up to examine this a few months ago. How high everyone knows, as the honourable ex-president of India, once Head of State after demitting office, chose to head the committee.

The committee in a notice sought public views. When I tried to send my message, on the last day, I could not as I guess the server got choked. In any case, I had posted them on LinkedIn six months ago.

But this is another debate which has resulted in a report, which is bound to be challenged in court successfully, like the bonds.

Why? Having been an observer in six Lok Sabha elections and returning officer as DC and chief election observer over 16 others, (for what reason I do not know) in a very sensitive LS election where a hardened criminal had terrorised everyone in the constituency.

My comments below are again reiterated. However, they have found resonance in the press report.

It Is Logistically Extremely Challenging

Training of staff in millions with at least 50 per cent additional staff, as balloting is separate, so the entire process is almost repeated, except the identification and inking.

Several extra electronic voting machines (EVMs) are required and their cost is estimated to be Rs 8,000 crore, according to a media report. This includes contingency EVMs and if they fail at any of the million booths at the crucial moment, then what? The budget does not show any such provision.

Their safe storage till counting, which becomes double now, is imperative to prevent tampering or replacement. This is not an easy task, as roads have to be blocked for nearly six to eight weeks minimum, causing acute stress in several congested areas of India.

The 24x7 additional security deployment that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is quietly saying now, in the press, is 750 companies of extra paramilitary forces, apart from 635 companies for Lok Sabha alone.

Where and how do you create these? What do you do with them after the elections? The only solution I can think of is to spread the elections over 12 weeks and have 12 rounds, not seven, as planned by ECI. Only to spread the forces by their quick movements, from one locale to the other, in the time gaps created for this purpose.

Is It Feasible?

Are the committee members qualified to say, an unconditional yes or no?

Logical legal problems are

Can you dissolve any assembly formed over one to two years, prematurely for the 2024 simultaneous elections idea, cutting short their legitimate mandate?

If the no-confidence motion is passed in any assembly, will elections be required to be held again?

Also for a hung assembly. Further, if one-third of the members of a party defect and the process is found null and void by the court, elections will take place again.

The learned committee, in its infinite wisdom, has disposed this matter, rather perfunctorily. I feel, by saying the tenure of any assembly for any reason, will only be till the next Lok Sabha elections. This means the committee arrogated to itself, powers not provided in the Constitution, of curtailing the tenure of a Cm to run a state for less than five years, even If he wins elections with a mandate of five years.

If it was so easy it would have been done by now. Why? Did the committee ask this question to itself As I see it, logically, legally, legitimately and without any opinion is that assemblies where elections are due at the same time as parliament. It can be tried with lots of staff and their training, full availability of EVMs and adequate security. EVMs' total safe storage has to be guaranteed by each district magistrate and superintendent of police.

JK Dadoo

IAS Retd

MBA - IIM A