Threat to Federalism and Regional Democracy

Fr. Gaurav Nair Fr. Gaurav Nair
23 Sep 2024

The Bharatiya Janata Party's push for One Nation, One Election (ONOE) has again sparked doubts about the future of democracy in India. Despite recent setbacks in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP is determined to implement this sweeping reform. The Union Cabinet recently approved the high-level committee report on this issue, led by former President Ram Nath Kovind.

At the heart of this proposal is the synchronisation of Lok Sabha, state assembly, and local body elections, which are currently held at different times. The Kovind committee claims that simultaneous polls will create more stability in governance and reduce the burden on public finances.

However, the BJP's motivation for pushing this agenda might run deeper than just administrative efficiency. The Party stands to gain from the simultaneous elections by leveraging its strong national presence. By consolidating elections, the BJP can streamline its campaign machinery and dominate both national and regional arenas.

India's political system is built on a federal foundation, where both the Union and the states enjoy considerable autonomy. State elections are dominated by local issues. Regional parties deeply rooted in their states address local concerns that national parties might overlook. Their relevance lies in connecting with voters on issues specific to their regions.

When voters are asked to choose their representatives for both the Lok Sabha and their state assembly simultaneously, they are more likely to be influenced by national rather than regional issues. This could lead to the dominance of national parties with resources to contest elections nationwide, and smaller regional parties could find their voices drowned out by the national cacophony.

The BJP's push for ONOE seems less about governance and more about consolidating its power. By aligning national and state elections, the BJP can capitalise on its minion network to win both national and state elections simultaneously. The Party would no longer need to worry about regional setbacks or coalition politics.

If the ONOE proposal is implemented, situations like the current opposition coalition, which managed to check the BJP's dominance in several state elections, might never arise again. The BJP would be able to conquer votes nationwide, using its vast resources and national appeal to drown out the voices of local parties. This could spell disaster for parties like the TDP, which has supported ONOE. While the TDP may see short-term benefits in aligning with the BJP on this issue, it should beware. The proposal it supports could eventually lead to its own marginalisation as the BJP tightens its grip on national and state-level politics.

The proposal for ONOE is not without merit, particularly in terms of cost savings and reducing election fatigue. However, the potential long-term consequences for India's democracy are far too significant to ignore. If regional parties are sidelined and local issues are drowned out by 'national' narratives, India's political system will become dangerously centralised. One Nation, One Election could ultimately become One Nation, One Party.
 

Recent Posts

In a world scarred by war, hatred, and inhuman leadership, education must humanise, not merely inform. Sanjeevani Vidyapeeth shows how empowering the marginalised with values, character, and competenc
apicture Jacob Peenikaparambil
07 Jul 2025
The sinking of MSC ELSA 3 off Kerala's coast exposes a toxic mix of corporate impunity, political complicity, and environmental neglect. As hazardous cargo threatens lives and livelihoods, the silence
apicture Joseph Maliakan
07 Jul 2025
In a world slipping into chaos, where leaders trade threats and valorise violence, India mirrors this decay, silencing dissent, weaponising identity, and pushing the marginalised to the margins. The c
apicture Thomas Menamparampil
07 Jul 2025
When Fr. Stan Swamy died on July 5, 2021, the world of truth and justice was shocked and saddened. Those who belonged to this group were convinced that his death was not a natural one, but a premedita
apicture Cedric Prakash
07 Jul 2025
The strength of India is in her democracy; the unity of India is in her diversity; the heritage of India is in her hospitality, the breath of India is in her principle of Ahimsa/non-violence, and the
apicture Fr. L. Michael Collins
07 Jul 2025
Marking June 25 as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' is a calculated distortion of history, designed to vilify Indira Gandhi while deflecting from the ongoing, undeclared Emergency under Modi.
apicture G Ramachandram
07 Jul 2025
When a nation stops examining itself, it stops evolving. When a people stop questioning, they stop progressing. And when truth is replaced by lies, it takes only a few years for credibility to erode —
apicture Robert Clements
07 Jul 2025
The Emergency must be remembered, not as a tool to target a political party but as a lesson against authoritarian excess. Yet, we cannot ignore that worse violations of democratic norms and human righ
apicture A. J. Philip
30 Jun 2025
Fifty years later, India faces a chilling déjà vu with an 'undeclared' Emergency. Freedom of speech is stifled, dissent is suppressed, and institutions are compromised. True democracy demands resistan
apicture Cedric Prakash
30 Jun 2025
Amit Shah's claim that those who speak English will be ashamed evidences that the BJP-RSS is trying to bring down the populace and push India into another Vedic dark age where ignorance and superstiti
apicture Jacob Peenikaparambil
30 Jun 2025