January 22, 2026

One Nation, One Election (ONOE) The Kovind Panel Blueprint & The Federal Showdown

One Nation, One Election (ONOE): The Kovind Panel Blueprint & The Federal Showdown description: "Analysis of the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal. We decode the Ram Nath Kovind High-Level Committee report, the 18 constitutional amendments required, the logistics of 30 Lakh EVMs, and why the Opposition calls it the death of regional politics." date: 2026-01-13 author: Electoral Bureau | Sansad Online tags: [One Nation One Election, ONOE, Kovind Panel, Article 83, Article 172, Simultaneous Elections, Federalism, EVM Logistics, Law Commission]

🗳️ One Nation, One Election: The End of the "Perpetual Campaign"?

New Delhi: Imagine a year where you vote for your Prime Minister, your Chief Minister, and your Ward Councilor on the same day. No more "Model Code of Conduct" freezing development every six months. No more constant election rallies distracting from governance.

This is the dream of "One Nation, One Election" (ONOE).

In 2024, the High-Level Committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind submitted its 18,000-page report recommending simultaneous elections. Now, in 2026, as the government moves to turn this report into law, the battle lines are drawn.

Supporters call it the "Mother of All Reforms" that will save ₹60,000 Crore. Opponents call it the "Death Certificate of Federalism."

In this deep dive, Sansad Online unpacks the blueprint, the hurdles, and the politics of synchronizing India’s democracy.

📜 The Proposal: The Two-Step Cycle

The Kovind Panel realized that synchronizing elections overnight is impossible. Instead, they proposed a two-step transition:

Step 1: Sync Lok Sabha & Assemblies (The Big Bang)

  • Target: Align the Lok Sabha elections with all State Assembly elections.
  • Mechanism:
    • If the Lok Sabha election is in 2029, all State Assemblies must also go to polls in 2029.
    • The Hard Part: What happens to a state like Tamil Nadu, elected in 2026? Its term ends in 2031. Under ONOE, its term would be cut short by 2 years to match the 2029 cycle.
    • What happens to UP, elected in 2027? Term cut short.
    • This "One Time Curtailed Term" is the biggest legal hurdle.

Step 2: Sync Municipalities & Panchayats (The Local Layer)

  • Target: Conduct local body elections within 100 days of the General Election.
  • Why? Currently, State Election Commissions (SECs) run local polls, while the Election Commission of India (ECI) runs national polls. Merging them requires a Single Electoral Roll (one voter list for all elections).

🏗️ The Logistics: The "EVM Mountain"

The biggest challenge isn't legal; it's logistical.

  • The EVM Shortage: Currently, the ECI rotates EVMs. It uses machines in Bihar in year 1, moves them to Gujarat in year 2.
  • The New Requirement: If everyone votes on the same day, you need machines for everyone at once.
  • The Numbers: The ECI estimates it will need 30 Lakh Control Units and 40 Lakh VVPATs (a 300% increase).
  • The Cost: New machines will cost ~₹10,000 Crore every 15 years. Critics argue this wipes out the "cost-saving" argument of ONOE.

⚔️ The Federal Clash: "Killing Regional Parties?"

Why is the Opposition terrified of ONOE? The answer lies in Voter Behavior.

The "Fading Effect"

Studies by the IDFC Institute show:

  • When elections are held simultaneously, there is a 77% chance that a voter will choose the same party for both Centre and State.
  • When held 6 months apart, this drops to 61%.
  • Implication: If Modi or Rahul Gandhi is the face of the National Campaign, voters in Odisha or Telangana might ignore the local regional leader and vote for the National Party for both slots.
  • The Fear: Regional issues (Water, Language, Caste) will be drowned out by National issues (War, Economy, Religion). Regional parties fear extinction.

⚖️ The Constitutional Maze: 18 Amendments

To make ONOE a reality, the Constitution needs open-heart surgery.

  1. Article 83 & 172 (Duration of Houses): Currently, a House lasts 5 years unless dissolved earlier. The amendment must make the term "Fixed" or "Flexible" to align cycles.
  2. Article 356 (President's Rule): If a state government falls in 2030 (mid-term), what happens?
    • Current Rule: New election for a full 5-year term.
    • ONOE Rule: New election only for the "Remainder of the Term" (i.e., until 2034). This ensures the cycle isn't broken.
  3. Ratification (The 50% Rule):
    • Changes to Lok Sabha duration don't need State Ratification.
    • BUT, changes to Local Bodies (Entry 5, List II) require the approval of 50% of State Assemblies.
    • This is where the Opposition-ruled states can block the process.

📉 The "hung Assembly" Nightmare

The Panel's solution to a "Hung Assembly" (No clear majority) is controversial.

  • Proposal: If no government can be formed, conduct a fresh election.
  • The Catch: The new government will serve only the "Unexpired Term."
    • Scenario: Election in 2029. Gov falls in 2030. Fresh Election in 2031.
    • The new Gov will serve only for 3 years (till 2034), not 5 years.
  • Criticism: This forces parties to form unstable coalitions just to avoid a short-term election, potentially leading to worse governance.

🔮 Conclusion: Efficiency vs. Democracy?

ONOE is a clash of two visions of India.

  • The Efficiency Vision: India is a developing superpower. It cannot afford to be in "Election Mode" 24x7. We need stability, policy continuity, and lower costs.
  • The Democratic Vision: India is a union of diverse states. Frequent elections are the only time politicians listen to the public. "Election Fatigue" is a myth invented by the elite; for the poor, the vote is their only power.

As the Bill enters Parliament in the Winter Session of 2026, the question is: Will India choose the speed of a unitary state or the chaos of a federal union?

Key Takeaway for Students:

  • Kovind Panel: Recommended the 2-step implementation.
  • Key Articles: 83 (Duration of Parliament), 172 (Duration of State Legislatures).
  • Ratification: Required for changes to Local Bodies, not necessarily for Lok Sabha/Assembly synchronization.
  • Remainder Term: The concept that mid-term elections will only be for the remaining period, not a full 5 years.