Pratap Bhanu Mehta writes: Why the arguments for and against One Nation One Election are flawed

Second, it is not wide wherefore specified a connection needfully entails an impatience with the clutter of antiauthoritarian politics. It inactive takes elections seriously. Yes, determination are elites who mightiness beryllium impatient with the alleged clutter. But the connection by itself has nary specified implication. It seems that galore of the critics look to privation to trim ideology conscionable to staggered elections (not adjacent the number, since the fig volition stay similar), and partisan competition. But ideology requires overmuch more. It requires the enactment of considered nationalist opinion, civilian nine mobilisation, the matching of nationalist accountability to clip horizons of policies. The astir considered situation with predominant elections is that we run lone successful 1 mode of our antiauthoritarian being — the mode of partisanship. ONOE mightiness really beryllium bully for societal movements, since 1 of the ways successful which our ideology has been impoverished is that we person fto partisanship colonise ideology each the mode down. Elections are 1 mode, and their essence is not conscionable elector accountability but partisanship. It is astatine slightest arsenic apt that different modes of mobilisation and accountability tin look if we are not nether the changeless shadiness of partisanship. We really mightiness get other, much originative forms of antiauthoritarian clutter.

Third, it is not wide wherefore ONOE needfully entails presidentialism, oregon that it volition “nationalise” authorities elections. People interest that if nationalist and authorities elections are held together, someway nationalist issues volition dominate. In portion this assertion is based connected ambiguous grounds from a fewer states which acquisition simultaneous elections with the Centre. But determination is simply a fallacy of composition. It is not wide that if simultaneous elections were to hap nationally, the aforesaid effect would follow. Moreover, determination is an anti-democratic elitism successful this argument, arsenic if voters are not intelligent capable to separate section versus nationalist issues oregon candidates. In fact, nationalist leaders whitethorn person to trust much connected section collaborators since they cannot walk arsenic overmuch clip successful each state, arsenic they tin bash present erstwhile elections are staggered. They could besides person to interest that section choler tin rebound nationally, if they don’t wage attention. Our existent strategy did not forestall semi-presidentialism. Whether ONOE turns statesmanlike is vastly under-determined arsenic is whether the absorption of power volition beryllium from nationalist to section oregon vice versa.

Fourth, determination is simply a interest that this signifies the diminution of the powerfulness of the representative, and hence, the dignity of legislative assemblies similar Parliament. This statement is perplexing. For 1 thing, the anti-defection Bill already efficaciously killed the powerfulness of the idiosyncratic typical and made them creatures of their party. Second, no-confidence motions astir ne'er succeed. Since Independence, of the 27 motions, arguably lone 1 succeeded. State legislatures are already defunct arsenic institutions of accountability. The dignity of Parliament has to beryllium restored, but again ONOE whitethorn beryllium orthogonal to it. There is the tricky contented of what happens if a authorities falls midway. You could reason that if you bring a authorities down, it is much honorable to person to look an predetermination for the remaining duration of the assembly. This is really much democratically accountable than relying connected backroom deals. Having an occasional assembly word beryllium for little than 5 years truthful that the timepiece tin beryllium reset mightiness not beryllium aesthetically symmetrical, but determination is thing undemocratic astir it.

Scepticism astir immoderate of the criticisms of the ONOE connection connected the grounds that it is anti-democratic does not mean that the arguments for the connection are strong. It is conscionable that galore of the criticisms look to employment the aforesaid formalistic logic the authorities does. One predetermination equals little expenditure. It equals much nationalist unity, and much efficiency. But the critics besides look to autumn into a akin formalism: Staggered elections adjacent diverseness and much democracy. Critics of the connection are close successful 1 respect — determination are tons of tiny reforms successful elections, successful Parliament that are much low-risk and person a precocious beneficial interaction for democracy. These should beryllium tried first.

Moving to ONOE volition beryllium constitutionally cumbersome. It is really not wide that it volition trim expenditure, particularly if we deliberation of expenditure by candidates. It is not wide it volition trim the pressures for “fiscal populism” (this should beryllium little of a interest for america than oligarchic power, but fto america permission that speech for now). In a competitory governmental system, if determination is nary statement connected norms, each parties volition proceed to outbid each different successful what they connection the electorate, nary substance erstwhile the election. And intelligibly the biggest hazard of the connection is not having immoderate electoral mechanics for expressing discontent for a afloat 5 years.

There is 1 benignant of antiauthoritarian clutter that it would beryllium bully to person much of — much empowered section governments. More than predominant elections, 1 of the things holding India backmost is the authorities of section governments, empowered panchayats oregon municipal bodies. These elections are fiercely contested but person ne'er had the dignity oregon concern they deserve. They request large reform. But it is not wide whether ONOE is simply a panacea oregon apocalypse for democracy. It whitethorn beryllium rather beside the point. Democracy needs an imaginativeness beyond the timing of elections.

The writer is contributing editor, The Indian Express