Modi's 'One Nation, One Election' and 'Secular Civil Code' pitch: How facile will it be for the BJP govt to make it a reality?

On the occasion of Diwali, a Hindu festival of lights, Modi said, "We are working towards One Nation, One Election which will strengthen Indian democracy, give an optimum outcome of the country's resources. As a result, India will gain momentum to fulfill the dream of Viksit Bharat."

"India is also moving towards 'One Nation, One Civil Code' or 'Secular Civil Code', which is inspired by Sardar Patel's vision of social unity," the Prime Minister added celebrating Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, which marks the birth anniversary of independence activist Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Modi with soldiers on Diwali 2024

For the uninformed, Patel's statue is referred to as the Statue of Unity, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018.

Impossible, says Congress

Soon after the announcement, Mallikarjun Kharge, chief of the largest opposition party Congress, arraigned Modi's remark calling it impossible in the current political scenario.

"Modi can't do what he is saying because when it (bill) comes to Parliament, he has to take everybody into confidence. Then only this will happen. But it is impossible because several states have diverse problems. Moreover, there are several regional parties," said Kharge, almost reminding the ruling dispensation of lacking a majority in the upper house Rajya Sabha.

CPI leader D Raja told ANI, "This is the current agenda for PM Modi, nothing else. There is strong public opinion against 'One Nation, One Election' because there is a perception that it will destroy the multi-party democratic system in the country, it will destroy the federal system of governance in our country and the present power structure, afterall India is a union of states."

BJP's Rajya Sabha hurdle

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which runs a coalition government with allies at the Centre, may sail through in the Lok Sabha with the figures of national coalition, but it may stumble upon the statistics in Rajya Sabha.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance may have the majority in Lok Sabha, but in the upper house Rajya Sabha the ruling coalition currently has 101 members, falling short of the majority mark of 113.

Several neutral parties (who are not allied to any national alliance) like YSRCP or AIADMK too are currently in a dismal situation owing to the changing political landscape in their own states.

Modi during a meeting with BJP allies

This brings to focus the remark passed by former Union Minister and Congress veteran P Chidambaram, who claimed the Modi government will have to bring at least five Constitutional amendments in order to make 'One Nation, One Election' a reality.

Chidambaram bluntly cited BJP's lack of numbers both in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Though the saffron party may cobble up the number in Lok Sabha, thanks to the allies, the ruling coalition has to strive in the upper house of Parliament.

History of simultaneous elections in India

On December 27,1970, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, a late Congress stalwart, dissolved the Lok Sabha after his government turned minority following her ouster from own party.

In an address to the nation, Gandhi had said her government aims not just to enjoy power but work towards betterment of people.

She had dissolved her government 15 months prior to her term's expiry date, opening the door for asynchronous elections in the country.

The first simultaneous elections in India were held in 1951-1952, when Modi's present dream of  'One Nation, One Election' was a reality.

But prior to 1970, the simultaneous assembly elections were already disrupted. In 1959, then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had advised President Rajendra Prasad to dissolve the world's first elected Communist government in Kerala.

Several unstable governments in Kerala, Bihar, West Bengal were dissolved in the 1960s.

Modi often counters the Opposition's charges of misusing power reminding them about Gandhi's dissolution of state governments on occasions.

Speaking to IBNS, BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said: "One nation, one election, is not a new concept. During the early years, our republic followed this. There are several arguments that favour reverting back to this."

"When placed before Parliament, our elected representatives will have the opportunity to share their views and address concerns, if any," he said.

A reality check

In March this year, former President Ram Nath Kovind-headed high-level panel sent a report to his successor Droupadi Murmu recommending simultaneous polls, which are aimed at saving resources, time and accelerating developmental works.

The panel has recommended all local body polls across the country simultaneously within 100 days after the General Elections and State Assembly elections are held.

One of the major positives of simultaneous elections is lowering of burden of expenditure as the country of 28 states and 8 union territories are almost always in an election mode.

The unabating election mode incapacitates the governance and discharge of duties due to the recurrent imposition of Model Code of Conduct (MCC), leaving aside political leaders with top portfolios in hand hitting the campaign trails for a month.

But one of the key challenges that is perceived as a hurdle is the question as to what would happen if any government, be it a State or Centre, collapses midterm?

A government's slump will eventually snap the synchronicity, strictly going by the current model of elections in India.

Among other disadvantages, the logistical issues like the arrangement of a chunk of EVM machines, resources, availability of security across the vast country of 1.4 billion people are the areas that demand a closer view.

Narendra Modi at Red Fort on Independence Day this year

In what would interest the Opposition, multiple state elections that go on within five years are often perceived as a referendum on the ruling party (primarily at the Centre) or the progression or deterioration of the Opposition camp nationally.

Elections on one shot will deprive the parties from assessing their ground realities while the voters would run out of options to vent their dissatisfaction or show their approval.

According to senior journalist-author Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, the idea is impractical at the moment. 

"It's not going to happen. I don't think what Narendra Modi wants is a practical idea at this juncture. I don't think it will also save substantially on public expenses," said Guha Thakurta.

"We have entered a new era of coalition politics. The BJP has weakened as compared to previous two terms. The entire political ecosystem has changed. We are returning to the era of coalition politics," he added.

BJP needs to convince major allies for UCC

The vexation for the ruling BJP is likely to breed when it comes to Modi's other poll promise, the contentious issue of UCC or the Secular Civil Code as the Prime Minister prefers to call.

Indubitably the Opposition- with most of the entities flagging the secular image in the country- will turn down the proposal, even BJP's key allies- Telugu Desam Party and Janata Dal (United)- are not in a mood to embrace the resolution.

Fathullah Mohammad, the general secretary of TDP's minority cell, speaking to Hindustan Times, said:"We need to know what aspects of civilian life will be impacted if the UCC is passed. Ours is a secular country and the Indian Constitution allows every citizen to practice their religion in accordance with their faith system."

"The BJP should have ideally discussed this issue with the alliance partners before announcing it publicly," he said.

Modi's post yoga selfies in Srinagar

In an interview with The Hindu, JD(U) national working president Sanjay Jha said, "Unless there is a concrete proposal we cannot possibly comment on the issue."

As per the statistics, the Muslim population forms nearly 10 percent and 17 percent of population in Andhra Pradesh and Bihar respectively. In both the states, the BJP is a part of the respective alliance governments.

"... These are issues that we should address when we sit across the table with our alliance. We will put forth our concerns ...The Law Commission is yet to draft the format for its (UCC) implementation. Unless the final draft does not come, I will not be able to say anything...," another important BJP ally Chirag Paswan, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief, told Hindustan Times.

Commenting on BJP's toil to get allies on board, Guha Thakurta said, "I also don't see UCC coming into reality, simply because Modi and his BJP are dependent on coalition partners. I don't think there will be a political consensus within the NDA.

"Also, the opposition is stronger than before with the Congress improving its tally from earlier 52 to 99 and now 101 with the support of two Independents. So I don't think the government will be able to push through this also."

(Photo courtesy: Narendra Modi Facebook page)