Former CEC SY Quraishi criticizes 'One Nation, One Election' proposal as flawed

Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) SY Quraishi has raised concerns over the government's proposal for simultaneous national and state elections, labeling some of its key recommendations as "flawed."

Quraishi emphasized the need for a thorough debate in Parliament to address the practical and constitutional challenges posed by the plan.

The Union Cabinet recently accepted the recommendations of a high-level committee, led by former president Ram Nath Kovind, to move forward with phased elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies after conducting a nationwide consensus-building process. However, opposition parties have criticized the plan as impractical and politically motivated.

The "One Nation, One Election" report claims that over 80% of the 21,558 responses received were in favor of the proposal.

Despite this, Quraishi pointed out several flaws, particularly the exclusion of Panchayat elections, which involve over 30 lakh local elected representatives. He warned that leaving out such a large section of elected officials while pushing for simultaneous elections undermines the initiative’s purpose.

The report suggests that Panchayat elections would be held separately within a 100-day window, a recommendation Quraishi criticized as contradictory to the idea of simultaneous polls. He cautioned that holding elections just months apart could lead to logistical difficulties and voter fatigue.

Additionally, Quraishi highlighted the Election Commission’s logistical concerns, noting that three times the current number of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) would be needed to manage simultaneous elections. This would require about 40 lakh additional machines, creating significant financial and logistical challenges, with costs amounting to thousands of crores of rupees.

While simultaneous elections would have certain advantages, such as using the same voters, polling stations, and staff for all three tiers of elections, the former CEC stressed the importance of debating these issues in Parliament. He expressed concerns that logistical problems could disenfranchise local voters, who often prioritize local governance over national policies.

Quraishi also underscored the constitutional hurdles in implementing the proposal, which would require amendments approved by a majority in both Houses of Parliament and ratification from at least half of India’s states, making the process complex and potentially contentious.

Despite these concerns, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that many political parties have supported the initiative, emphasizing that it would strengthen democracy, improve Centre-state relations, and eliminate obstacles to the country’s growth.