One Nation, One Election’ Opposed by AAP, Citing Democratic Concerns

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has expressed its strong opposition to the concept of ‘One Nation, One Election’ (ONOE), which proposes to hold simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies in India. The party has raised several concerns over the potential impact of ONOE on the parliamentary democracy, the constitutional structure, and the federal fabric of the country.

AAP’s objections to ONOE

In a detailed letter to Niten Chandra, Secretary of the High-Level Committee on One Nation, One Election, dated January 18, AAP National Secretary Pankaj Gupta elaborated on the party’s stance against this proposal. He emphasized that ONOE could lead to significant political consequences, such as:

• Destabilization of the parliamentary system: ONOE could undermine the accountability of the elected representatives to the people and the legislature. It could also reduce the scope for mid-term corrections and no-confidence motions, which are essential checks and balances in a democracy.
• Inability to address hung legislatures: ONOE could create a situation where no single party or coalition has a clear majority in the state assemblies or the Lok Sabha. This could lead to political instability, uncertainty, and frequent imposition of President’s rule or Governor’s rule.
• Increase in anti-defection activities: ONOE could encourage the buying and selling of MLAs and MPs, as well as defections and horse-trading among political parties. This could erode the trust and confidence of the voters in the electoral process and the political system.

“Aam Aadmi Party firmly stands against ‘One Nation, One Election’. This concept threatens to erode the foundation of parliamentary democracy, the Constitution’s basic structure, and the federal fabric of our nation. It’s ill-equipped to manage hung legislatures and may fuel the detestable practices of defection and political horse-trading,” said Gupta in the letter.

AAP’s arguments against ONOE

Gupta also argued that ONOE would disproportionately benefit the party in power at the Union level, thereby putting regional parties and other national parties competing in state elections at a disadvantage. He contended that this approach would not only harm the multi-party system in India but also marginalize voices that have only recently found representation in mainstream politics.

He cited several reasons for this claim, such as:

• Influence of national issues over state issues: ONOE could create a voting pattern where people vote for the same party in both state and national elections, especially if these are held close together. This could overshadow the state-specific issues and priorities that affect the lives of the people at the grassroots level.
• Dominance of national parties over regional parties: ONOE could favor national parties that have a wider reach and resources, while disadvantaging regional parties that have a limited presence and influence. This could reduce the diversity and plurality of opinions and interests in the political arena.
• Loss of representation for smaller parties: ONOE could make it harder for smaller parties to contest elections and win seats, as they would have to compete with larger parties on multiple fronts. This could deprive them of their rightful share of representation and participation in governance.

“The notion that simultaneous elections would lead to financial savings is flawed and should not override the principles of democracy and constitutional integrity. The savings are negligible when compared to the Government of India’s annual budget,” added Gupta.

AAP’s stand on ONOE

The AAP has stated that it is not opposed to electoral reforms, but rather to ONOE as a concept that violates the spirit and essence of democracy. The party has suggested that instead of pursuing ONOE, the government should focus on other measures to improve the electoral system, such as:

• Strengthening the Election Commission of India (ECI) and ensuring its autonomy and independence
• Implementing proportional representation or mixed-member proportional representation to ensure fair representation for all parties
• Introducing state funding of elections to curb corruption and black money
• Enacting comprehensive electoral reforms to ensure free and fair elections

The Central government had earlier constituted a high-level committee, led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, to explore the feasibility of simultaneous elections in India. The committee had invited views and suggestions from various stakeholders, including political parties, civil society organizations, constitutional experts, and academics.

The AAP is not alone in opposing ONOE. Several other parties, such as Congress, DMK, TMC, RJD, CPI(M), CPI, NCP, SP, BSP, TRS, JMM, NC, PDP, Shiv Sena, JD(S), RLD, IUML, AIUDF, MDMK, VCK, AIMIM, JKNPP etc., have also expressed their reservations or objections to this concept, citing various reasons.