'One Nation, One Election' Not Against Federalism: JPC Chief PP Chaudhary
JPC Chairperson PP Chaudhary says simultaneous polls won't hurt federalism and will save costs, ensuring better delivery of welfare schemes.
The debate over synchronising polls in India has taken a significant turn as the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) asserts that the One Nation One Election initiative does not undermine the country's federal structure. PP Chaudhary, a senior BJP MP and Chairperson of the JPC, stated that expert insights suggest regional parties could actually emerge stronger under a synchronised electoral system.
Expert Insights on Federalism and Regional Power
Speaking to ANI, Chaudhary revealed that the committee has been consulting with a wide array of specialists, including eminent economists, political scientists, and senior members of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (EAC-PM). These discussions focused on the structural, political, and economic ramifications of holding simultaneous national and state assembly elections.
Addressing the fear that regional parties might be marginalised or that federalism would be weakened, Chaudhary pointed to global research. He noted that experts argued a proper distribution of power between the Centre and the States is the key to strengthening regional entities. Interestingly, the depositions suggested that regional parties often gained more prominence when the central government was weaker, countering the narrative that simultaneous polls would disadvantage them.
The Economic Toll of Frequent Polls
Beyond the political debate, the JPC is heavily weighing the financial and administrative burden of India's current staggered election cycle. The committee highlighted several critical issues:
- Fiscal Waste: The current system is described as resulting in massive fiscal waste.
- Investment Barriers: Frequent election cycles are seen as a deterrent to private corporate investment.
- Administrative Strain: The constant mobilisation of the security apparatus and administrative machinery ties up essential government resources.
- Governance Gap: A perpetual campaign culture is argued to be detrimental to the overall health of democracy and effective governance.
Impact on Social Security and Welfare
One of the most pressing concerns raised by PP Chaudhary is the disruption of government welfare schemes. He pointed out that the Union Government allocates approximately Rs 5 lakh crore annually toward social security programs. However, the delivery of these services often hits a bottleneck during election periods.
"Frequent elections also slow down government welfare schemes, as the administration is repeatedly engaged in election duties," Chaudhary explained.
Legislative Review
The JPC recently convened to review two critical pieces of legislation: the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024. These reviews are aimed at assessing the long-term socio-economic impact of synchronising elections across the nation, states, and union territories to ensure a more streamlined administrative process.