One Nation One Election and representative democracy
Context:
India, the world’s largest democracy, thrives on its diverse representation and participatory governance. However, the increasing frequency of elections poses challenges related to governance, resource expenditure, and voter fatigue. To address these, the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, proposes synchronising elections, sparking significant debate over its feasibility and implications for India’s democratic ethos.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024:
Key Provisions:
- Insertion of Article 82(A):
- Mandates simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and State/Union Territory Legislative Assemblies.
- Fixes legislative tenures, with mid-term elections covering only the remainder of dissolved terms.
- Amendments to Articles 83, 172, and 327: Changes effective post-2029 general elections, aiming for full implementation by 2034.
- Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024: Aligns the tenure of Union Territories’ Legislative Assemblies with the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
Representative Democracy: Principles and Relevance:
- Definition and Features: Representative democracy allows citizens to elect leaders to govern on their behalf. Its core principles include:
- Free and Fair Elections: Ensuring legitimacy and accountability.
- Protection of Individual Rights: Balancing majority rule with minority protection.
Philosophical Perspective:
Western thinkers like J.S. Mill emphasised the importance of representative democracy in fostering liberty and educating citizens about civic responsibilities. Mill advocated for proportional representation to prevent tyranny by the majority and ensure inclusivity.
- Periodic Accountability: Representatives remain answerable to voters.
- Importance in Diverse Nations: In a populous and diverse country like India, representative democracy ensures:
- Governance through elected intermediaries, as direct participation is impractical.
- Reconciliation of competing interests through institutional mechanisms.
- Global Challenges: A 2024 Pew Research Center study highlighted growing disillusionment with representative democracy globally:
- Inefficiency, corruption, and unmet promises.
- Rising support for alternative systems like direct democracy, expert rule, and authoritarian governance in nations like Greece, Japan, and the U.S.
Why Representative Democracy is Best for India:
Historical Context: India’s framers chose representative democracy due to its suitability for:
Alternative Systems and Global Trends:
Direct Democracy
- Citizens vote directly on laws and policies.
- Practical in small nations like Switzerland but challenging for larger, diverse populations.
Authoritarianism
- Rising support globally due to perceptions of inefficiency in democracies.
- Risks undermining individual freedoms and rights.
- Diversity Management: Enabling representation across languages, religions, and cultures.
- Federal Structure: Balancing central and state interests.
- Practicality: Direct democracy was deemed unviable for a large population.
Continuing Relevance
- Ensures checks and balances in governance.
- Facilitates citizen participation through elected representatives.
- Promotes peaceful transitions of power.
ONOE and its Possible Impact on Representative Democracy:
Potential Implications
-
- Centralisation of Power: Synchronising elections may shift focus from state-specific issues to national narratives, diluting federalism.
- Reduced Accountability: Longer intervals between elections may limit opportunities to assess governments.
- Efficiency vs Representation: Administrative gains may come at the cost of weakening democratic processes.
- Balancing Efficiency with Representation: For ONOE to succeed, it must preserve democratic principles while addressing logistical challenges. Transparent and inclusive policymaking is essential.
Critique of Representative Democracy
Jayaprakash Narayan (JP):
- Fragmented Politics: Individual voting fosters partisan politics.
- Minority Governments: Multi-party systems risk instability.
- High Costs: Elections tether democracy to wealthy interests.
Modern Relevance: JP’s concerns resonate in debates over ONOE, highlighting the need for reforms that balance efficiency with representation.
