HIGH TIME FOR A UNIFIED BALLOT

One Nation, One Election is simply an initiative towards promoting socio-political stability, prioritizing civic-friendly governance, effective policy making and implementation over and above the constant loop of elections and the affiliated politics which currently dominate our headlines.

- KARTIKEYA SHARMA

Democracy is not a static endpoint, but an ever-evolving journey shaped by societal changes, technological advancements, and global challenges. Its essential nature lies in continuous adaptation, reflecting the dynamic interplay between established institutions and emerging public needs.

The age of a democracy is not the sole indicator of its strength or effectiveness.

Instead, the true measure of a democratic system is in its ability to achieve an optimum level of governance that meets the needs and aspirations of its citizens.

For India, the Constitution has been not just the guiding force for our democracy, but a pioneer in spearheading and empowering the governments to evolve with time and synchronize with the complexities and nature of the time.

Conducting simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies was the de facto norm in Independent India until the 1967 elections. Barring a few exceptions, the Congress Party won a unanimous mandate across all elections during the 1951-67 period, without any opposition or controversy surrounding the simultaneous conduct of elections. Although the Union Government retained its weightage, the states and their respective governments were still powerful in their own right and the simultaneous elections did not impact their autonomy in any manner.

The 1967 elections had a profound impact on the political landscape of India, as the Congress Party was seen to have exhausted its mandate. Widespread disenchantment emerged and this period was marked by a continuous power struggle within the Congress leadership at all levels. The central leadership sought to moderate conflicts among state leaders to prevent dissidents from feeling isolated and in doing so, it supported dominant factions within the states to secure its own position at the national level.