In a thought-provoking discussion at the third State Conference-2025 of the DMK’s legal wing, senior lawyer and Rajya Sabha member Kapil Sibal expressed grave concerns over the BJP-led government’s proposal of ‘One Nation, One Election.’ The initiative, according to Mr. Sibal, is both ill-conceived and ill-advised, raising several constitutional and practical challenges.
An Assault on the Constitution’s Basic Structure?
Kapil Sibal emphasized that the idea of simultaneous elections violates the basic structure of the Constitution, which ensures a fixed five-year term for governments at both the State and Central levels.
“The idea violates the basic structure of the Constitution. Every government has a Constitutional right to complete its fixed term of five years,” he said, stressing the democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution.
A critical flaw in the proposal, according to Sibal, is the potential disruption in governance cycles. If a government loses the confidence of the House—be it the Lok Sabha or a State Assembly—subsequent elections would only fill the remaining term instead of restarting a new five-year term. “If the government loses power after four years, the next government would be elected only for one year. This is contrary to the basic feature of the Constitution,” he argued, raising questions about how such a system would allow the electorate to assess governance performance meaningfully.
The Risk of Marginalizing State Issues
Sibal also warned that implementing ‘One Nation, One Election’ could erode the significance of State-level issues. He argued that national issues would dominate campaigns, pushing aside concerns specific to individual States.
“India is a Union of States, that’s the Preamble of the Constitution. Now, you’ve diminished the State. You are trying to destroy the basic structure of the State,” Sibal said, accusing the government of seeking support from cronies to push the controversial idea. He cautioned that this proposal could lead to the centralization of power, undermining India’s federal structure and diversity.
Voices Against ‘One Nation, One Election’
N. Ram, Director of The Hindu Group Publishing Private Ltd., added his voice to the opposition, calling the proposal a “grand exercise in political folly.” He linked it to the broader agenda of Hindutva authoritarianism, suggesting it undermines India’s diversity and pluralism.
“It is an assault on the diversity and pluralism of India and Indian civilisation,” Ram remarked, urging regional parties to stand united against the proposal. Ram specifically pointed to the role of regional parties, such as the DMK and Telugu Desam Party (TDP), in resisting this initiative. He urged Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP leader N. Chandrababu Naidu, an ally of the BJP, to reconsider his stance.
Former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi also participated in the discussion, challenging the economic arguments supporting ‘One Nation, One Election.’ Proponents often claim that simultaneous elections would reduce expenditures and prevent “policy paralysis” caused by the Model Code of Conduct. Quraishi dismissed these assertions as baseless.
“There is a ceiling on the expenditure incurred by a candidate, not by political parties. Also, simultaneous elections require three times the number of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) that are currently required. So, where is the reduced expenditure?” Quraishi questioned.
Critics argue that the proposal might centralize power at the expense of regional autonomy, shifting the focus of elections from local governance to broader national agendas. This could marginalize smaller, regional voices that play a crucial role in India’s federal system.
While the debate around ‘One Nation, One Election’ continues to heat up, its implications on governance, democracy, and federalism demand careful scrutiny. The question remains: can such a proposal truly align with India’s complex political fabric, or is it an overreach threatening the very principles of its Constitution?
