Relating to - One Nation, One Election- objection
- Kohima, 15 January 2024 : Naga People's Front (NPF) -

*

To
Dr. Niten Chandra
Secretary High Level Committee-One Nation, One Election
New Delhi: 110003.

Sub: IN MATTER RELATING TO-ONE NATION, ONE ELECTION-OBJECTION THEREOF.

Sir,

Warm New Year Greetings from the Office of the Naga People's Front (NPF).

The NPF Central Office Kohima is in receipt of your letter dated 18th October 2023 seeking suggestions pertaining to simultaneous election of Lok Sabha and State Assembly. The Party is of the view that the concept of-One Nation, One Election (for short--ONOE) would invariably defeat the spirit of Federal Structure because India being a Union of States with Federal Structure it is a direct assault on the very essence and fabric of the Democratic features.

Keeping in mind the composition of the multi-ethnicity of the citizens of Indian Union, various States have been created at different Stages with different reasons. Even in the recent past many more new States have been created mainly on linguistic line and some States especially Nagaland was born out of Political Agreement hence a notion such as ONOE is detrimental to India as a developing Nation which has earned a name in the comity of Nations as a country of Unity in Diversity. As a matter of fact, India is one of most diverse countries in the world and the idea of homogeneity or a- one size-fits all will be only a wishful thinking and it will be repulsive as well.

It is an acknowledged fact that large chunk of electorates normally turn up in both Parliamentary and Assembly elections basically reposing their faith on the Regional Political Parties. This is because many a times National Political Parties inadequatelyaddresses the regional and local issues resulting into regional imbalances even in terms of developmental projects.

Whereas, inter alia, one of the fundamental objectives of the Regional Political Parties is to effectively protect and defend the distinct identity, culture, tradition, customary and religious practices of its people which in turn attract and inspire its citizens particularly the poor local people at the grass-root to take interests in the electoral process. Hence, the number of voters turn up and voting percentage would drastically reduced if the theory of-ONOE is propounded thereby the much acclaimed celebration of Indian democracy which is normally measured from the voters turn up point of view would speedily erode and it will be a thing of the past.

It appears that the entire gamut of the proponent of ONOE is specifically from the reduction of expenditure point of view in the conduct of the elections. However, election related expenditure reduction measures cannot be adopted at the cost of Federalism. Moreover, ONOE will hardly make any difference in reducing the election related expenditures. There is always a scope to amend the Representation of Peoples Act by way of incorporating stringent measures in regulating the overall election expenditures.

As of today, the election related expenditures do not burden much on the country's economy as the figure shows that the overall election expenditure amounts to approximately 0.33% of the GDP and for a country i.e. (India) whose GDP is about Rs. 300 Lakh Cr., the cost is not too much. In addition to this, the expenditures on subsidies, freebies etc. offer to attract voters by the Political Parties are also estimated to cost only 1-2% of the GDP which is also projected as not too much, rather reasonable.

Amongst the countries that are practicing Parliamentary form of Government at the moment, there are only few countries such as South Africa, Belgium and Sweden etc. where List Party Proportional Representation (LPPR) system is followed. Whereas in the Indian democracy, the system of First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) is in operation since independence and it has proven to be successful as the electorates know their Representatives (MP/MLA) in person and thus making things easier for the electorates to ventilate their grievances.

The LPPR system is indeed unfamiliar to many countries. This system actually delinks the electorates from its Representatives. The electorates have no ability to determine the identity of the Leader/Person who will represent them. The geographical linkage between the Representatives and the electorates is also lost. If ONOE is to be introduced, overhauling of the Indian Constitution will be necessitated and most probably end up in adopting a system of LPPR which is too abstruse for the Indian masses as majority of the Indian population lives in the villages. As a matter of fact, a system which is applicable in other countries particularly European countries will be far-fetch for the Indian electorates till India becomes fully developed nation.

We have no doubt in our mind that once simultaneous election of Lok Sabha and State Assembly is impose upon the relevancy of the Regional Political Parties would also diminished as National agenda will overshadow regional and local issues. Over and above, the National Political Parties would take upper hand by using all sorts of tantalizing propaganda with an intention to hammer the Regional Political Parties and ultimately leads to One Party Rule which is akin to communist type of government that will only invite chaos and confusion in the Indian polity as it will be a direct threat to Indian democracy.

We are also pretty sure that use of money power and misuse of government machineries would be rampant during election by the National Political Parties to wrestle power if simultaneous Election is held for both Parliamentary and State Assembly. This will definitely vitiate the atmosphere of free and fair election as well which will be another bigger threat to Indian democracy.

In the light of the above facts and circumstances, the NPF strongly object simultaneous election of Lok Sabha and State Assembly and do not subscribed the concept of-One Nation, One Election.

(Apong Pongener)
President-NPF

(Achumbemo Kikon)
MLA & Secretary General-NPF