ONOE: A Threat to Federalism?

Recent Context

• The "One Nation, One Election" (ONOE) proposal, revived by the government, aims to synchronize Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections for various administrative reasons. Skeptics argue it may centralize power, weaken federalism, and highlight misue of Article 356 (President's Rule) in past, raising concerns over India's democratic integrity.

Understanding One Nation, One Election

• The concept of One Nation, One Election intends to hold simultaneous general elections for the Lok Sabha (Parliament) and all state legislative assemblies. This would replace the existing system where elections for state governments and the central government are conducted at different intervals. The rationale behind the introduction of ONOE is that it will reduce costs, improve administrative efficiency, and reduce election-related disturbances. However, the idea raises various worries regarding its potential impact on democratic norms, the autonomy of individual states, and Indian Federalism.

The Federalism of India

• Federalism is a system of governance where power is shared between a central authority and its constituent political units.Federalism in India is a decentralized system that divides authority between the states and the federal government.

• Indian federalism differs from that of the US in that it strikes a balance between state autonomy and a powerful central government to meet the nation's heterogeneous sociopolitical environment.

  
  

Differences Between Federalism in the United States and India

Aspect	Indian Federalism	U.S. Federalism
Nature of Federalism	Quasi-federal with a mix of federal and unitary features.	Pure federal structure with clear separation of powers.
Constitutional Basis	Single written constitution that is supreme.	Single written constitution that is supreme.
Division of Powers	Power is divided into Union, State, and Concurrent Lists.	Power is divided between federal and state governments, with residual powers to states.
Residual Powers	Vested in the central government.	Vested in the states.
Amendment Process	Certain provisions require ratification by states; others don't.	Most amendments require approval by three-fourths of the states.
Judicial Authority	Unified judiciary with the Supreme Court as the apex court.	Dual judiciary with separate state and federal courts.
State Autonomy	States have limited autonomy; the central government can override.	States enjoy greater autonomy; federal government cannot override state authority.
Representation in Legislature	States are represented in the Rajya Sabha based on population.	States are represented equally in the Senate, regardless of population.
Emergency Provisions	Central government can assume control during emergencies.	No provision for central government to take over state powers directly.
Cultural Diversity	Accommodates linguistic, religious, and cultural diversity.	Lesser emphasis on cultural or linguistic diversity in governance.
Nature of Governance	More centralized, especially during crises.	Decentralized, with clear separation of state and federal powers.

Key Features of Federalism

• Constitutional supremacy: Federalism is governed by a written constitution that specifies the duties and authority of the two tiers of government. In order to keep either from gaining too much power, it also has checks and balances. In India and the US, the Constitution is the supreme law of land, and any legislation that contradicts it may be deemed unconstitutional (by the Supreme Court, as the guardian of the Constitution) unlike in the United Kingdom, where parliament is supreme.

• Division of Power between Centre and State: Federalism creates a distinct division of powers between the national and regional governments, each of which is responsible for specific tasks. To maintain a balance of government, the Indian Constitution divides and separates the powers into three lists: the Union List (defence, foreign affairs, communication), the State List (police, public health), and the Concurrent List (education, marriage laws, forest laws).

• Independent Judiciary: A federal structure relies on an impartial court to interpret the Constitution and settle conflicts between central and state governments. In India, the Supreme Court protects the Constitution by resolving disputes such as the distribution of water resources among states.

• Bicameral Legislature: Federalism typically includes a bicameral legislature, with one chamber representing the population and the other representing the states. In the United States, Congress is divided into two chambers: the House of Representatives (represents the people) and the Senate (represents the States). Similarly, in India, the Rajya Sabha represents the states and the Lok Sabha represents the people/citizens.

• Flexibility: Federalism allows for flexibility in power-sharing agreements, allowing for modifications if and when political or social circumstances change. Canada's federal system is flexible enough to provide provinces authority in sectors like healthcare, allowing for customized solutions to meet local requirements.

  
  

Is India a true Federation?

India's system of governance is often described as quasi-federal. The term "quasi-federal" was first coined by K.C. Wheare to describe a system that combines elements of both federal and unitary characteristics.The Indian Constitution establishes a distribution of powers between the central and state governments largely through Schedule VII to ensure a federal framework. However, it also has clauses that give the central government extra power in certain cases, highlighting unitary features. This synthesis of federal and unitary attributes enables a more adaptable and dynamic approach to government that responds to changing circumstances. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, highlighted the Constitution's flexibility by stating that it will function as both unitary and federal, contingent on the circumstances and demands of the day.

How One Nation, One Election (ONOE) Challenges India's Federal Structure?

Skepts argue that the One Nation, One Election (ONOE) proposal, which seeks to synchronize Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections in an effort to cut costs and administrative difficulties, poses serious threats to India's federal structure as guaranteed by the Constitution. The Sarkaria Commission (1988) emphasized that excessive centralization could weaken the spirit of cooperative federalism.

• Erosion of State Autonomy: The federal system in India maintains a division of power between the Union and the states, with state governments having the autonomy to address local issues and govern independently; ONOE runs the risk of undermining this autonomy by centralizing the electoral process. By synchronizing elections, the Union's and the states' distinct electoral mandates would be diluted, may decrease the ability of state governments to act independently of the Center's influence.

• National Issues Overshadowing Local Concerns: Elections held at the same time may cause national narratives to take precedence over local ones. Voters may prioritize national issues over local and regional ones, which are usually the focus of state elections, during a combined electoral cycle. This change would lessen the electoral significance of local governance issues and the role of regional parties.

• Impact on Regional Parties: Strong regional parties that reflect the distinct goals of different states are a defining feature of India's political diversity. National parties with more resources and outreach may benefit from an unfair playing field brought about by the ONOE proposal. Regional parties may become marginalized as a result, losing clout and shifting the balance of power in the Center's favor.

• Constitutional Challenegs: It may be argued that dissolving several state assemblies to coincide with election cycles amounts to federal overreach and goes against the concept of cooperative federalism. The difficulty is further increased by issues like coordinating election cycles in a multicultural nation and acquiring extra EVMs and VVPATs.

• Risks of Centralized Politics: The ONOE proposal has the potential to shift India toward a more centralized style of governance, similar to the presidential system. The argument is that this violates the federal principle of power-sharing, in which states participate as equal stakeholders in the Union. The dominance of national parties in simultaneous elections may result in centralization, limiting the influence of state governments.

• Undermining Democratic Diversity: India’s federal structure reflects its cultural, linguistic, and political diversity. Uniform electoral cycles ignore this diversity, promoting uniformity at the expense of pluralism. The argument for cost-saving overlooks the broader principle that elections, though frequent, are a cornerstone of democracy, reflecting the distinct identities and needs of India’s states.

  
  

  Aligning 'One Nation, One Election' (ONOE) with Federal Principles 

• Pilot Implementation: India's ONOE implementation may begin with pilot initiatives in union territories such as Delhi, Puducherry, and Chandigarh. Flexible regional election cycles (North, South, East, and West) lasting 5-10 years can address governance or security concerns while ensuring national election stability.

• Maintaining Federal Balance: Ensuring that ONOE does not undermine the federal structure or the autonomy of states by maintaining clear distinctions in local and national issues.The Indian federal structure is intended to allow states to operate autonomously on local matters (e.g., public health, police, and agriculture), while the central government handles national ones such as military and foreign affairs. ONOE must respect this division by ensuring that local concerns are not swamped by national ones. For example, the 2019 Lok Sabha elections were mainly focused on national security and economic policies, leaving little room for addressing regional issues such as agrarian distress or water management in states such as Punjab and Tamil Nadu.

• Preserve the Diversity of Democracy: Recognize and advance India's political, linguistic, and cultural diversity by making sure ONOE upholds this heterogeneity. To avoid homogenizing the political process, take regional quirks into account while planning election cycles.

• Gradual Implementation and Adaptability: The government may phase in ONOE gradually over a period of five to ten years, taking into account input and resolving issues as they come up. The election schedule should remain flexible to meet the needs of each state or to account for unforeseen events.

• Global Inspiration: Draw inspiration from countries like South Africa,Belgium,Sweden, where federal systems have successfully synchronized elections while preserving state sovereignty.

Conclusion

The implementation of One Nation, One Election must strike a delicate balance between increasing electoral efficiency and preserving India's federal structure. The ONOE may promote democracy while preserving state sovereignty by guaranteeing broad-based consultations, progressive implementation, and strong constitutional safeguards. Maintaining cooperative federalism is critical for preserving India's unity in diversity and ensuring that all citizens' democratic aspirations are met.

UPSC Mains Model Question

Q. One Nation, One Election' (ONOE) envisions a synchronized electoral cycle for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. Critically examine the possible benefits and obstacles of adopting ONOE in the context of India's federal structure. (250 words)

References

• https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-looming-threat-to-federalism-and-democratic-tenets/article69058650.ece

• https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/politics/one-nation-one-election-why-federalism-is-at-risk

• https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/one-nation-one-election-indiareform-bills-2034-124121800589_1.html?utm_source

• https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-cabinet-accepts-recommendation-hold-simultaneous-national-state-elections-2024-09-18/?utm_

• https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/simultaneous-elections-are-a-rarity-around-the-world-580148/