The Union Cabinet has approved the ambitious "One Nation, One Election (ONOE)" plan, a landmark move towards synchronizing electoral processes across India. Based on recommendations from a high-level panel headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, the proposal seeks to amend multiple constitutional articles to enable simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies. This transformative initiative aims to implement the simultaneous election model in two phases, potentially revolutionizing India''s electoral landscape.

Evolution of ONOE in India

• Pre-Independence Context The concept of simultaneous elections is rooted in the colonial electoral system under the Government of India Act, 1935. 
• Though fragmented, elections were aligned for legislative bodies under British rule.
• Post-Independence Era (1952-1967)
• First General Elections (1952): India began its democratic journey with synchronized elections for the Lok Sabha and all State Legislative Assemblies.
• Continuation: Simultaneous elections were successfully conducted in 1957, 1962, and 1967, ensuring political and administrative stability.
• Disruption of Simultaneity (1968-1969)
• The cycle was disrupted due to the premature dissolution of some State Assemblies in 1968-1969, notably in Haryana and Kerala. 
• In 1970, the Lok Sabha was dissolved before completing its term, leading to separate election cycles for the Lok Sabha and various State Assemblies.
• Attempts to Revisit ONOE
• Law Commission of India (170th Report, 1999): Advocated simultaneous elections, emphasizing the reduction of election-related disruptions and costs.
• Parliamentary Standing Committee (2015): Highlighted the benefits of ONOE, including curbing electoral expenses and ensuring uninterrupted governance.
• NITI Aayog Report (2017): Proposed a roadmap to reintroduce ONOE.

Need for Simultaneous elections

• Governance and development: Frequent elections delay development programs due to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
• Frequent elections affect economic growth, investment decisions and opportunity cost of deferred economic decisions.
• Conducting elections to all three tiers of the Government together would avoid disruption of supply chains and production cycles due to migrant workers seeking leave of absence to cast their vote.
• High financial burden: Holding simultaneous elections would reduce the massive expenditure incurred for conduct of separate elections every year.
• Diversion of human resources: Such as security forces and other electoral officers (like Teachers) from their primary duties for significantly prolonged periods.
• Reducing the burden on courts: Fewer elections mean fewer election-related disputes, reducing the workload on courts.
• Reducing identity politics: Frequent elections use identity politics, like caste and class stirring division and disrupting societal cohesion.
• Voter participation: Staggered elections induce ‘voters’ fatigue’ and present a significant challenge in ensuring their participation.

Highlights of High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections

The committee advocated simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and local bodies to address the burden on the Government, businesses, Courts, political parties, civil society etc. due to frequent elections. Recommendations are as follows:

• Synchronization of Elections: Elections to be held in two phases
• First phase: Conduct Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly elections simultaneously. 
• Second phase: Conduct local body elections (Panchayats and Municipalities) within 100 days of general elections.
• Constitutional Amendments proposed: The high-level committee had proposed amendments to three Articles, insertion of 12 new sub-clauses in the existing articles and tweaking three laws related to Union Territories having legislative assemblies.

• Single electoral roll: To be prepared by the Election Commission of India in consultation with the State Election Commission(s) by amending Article 325.
• As it includes amending State subjects (Local Government) in the 7^th Schedule, Part IX, and Part IXA of the Constitution of India, ratification by the States required under Article 368(2).
• Need for ratification by states:  The Committee observed that constitutional amendments in relation to terms of Parliament and state assemblies will not require ratification by states.  However, constitutional amendments in relation to local bodies will be required to be passed with ratification by at least half of the states.
• Making Logistical arrangements for conduction of Simultaneous Elections
• For elections to the House of the People and State Legislative Assemblies: The Election Commission of India will draw a plan for advanced estimation of procurement of EVMs/VVPATs, deployment of polling personnel, security forces etc.
• For elections to Municipalities and Panchayats: The State Election Commission(s) in consultation with the ECI, will draw a plan for the logistical requirements.
• Constitution of an Implementation Group to monitor the execution of the process.

Challenges and complexities of simultaneous elections

• Overshadowing regional issues: Conducting elections simultaneously to the Lok Sabha and all State assemblies would result in national issues overshadowing regional and State specific issues.
• Impact on the Regional parties: Simultaneous elections may create a system where National political parties would have a significant advantage over regional parties.
• Political accountability: Frequent elections hold lawmakers accountable, while fixed terms may provide unwarranted stability without performance scrutiny challenging democratic principles.
• Concerns Regarding Federalism: Constitutional Amendments concerning the term of the state legislative assemblies under Article 172 can be carried out without ratification by states. Thus, opinion and say of States is reduced.
• Logistical Issues: Organizing ONOE would require significant resources, including a vast supply of electronic voting machines and trained personnel to oversee the process.

A delicate balance between the efficiency gains of simultaneous elections and the foundational principles of federalism, democratic integrity, and political plurality needs to be ensured through detailed legislative deliberations.