The Modi govt last week kicked off the exercise to implement its ‘One Nation One Election’ promise by 2029, accepting the recommendations of a high-level panel headed by former President Ramnath Kovind.
The move will require support from opposition and non-NDA parties to push amendments to the Constitution, for which three ministers have been tasked to coordinate with political parties. The amendments may be introduced as early as the winter session of Parliament, sources said.
Although home minister Amit Shah had reaffirmed govt’s intent to implement the move within the current term of Modi govt, few had expected matters to move so swiftly, given NDA’s lack of numbers in Parliament and the stated position of oppositon parties, who had among them enough strength to thwart the move.
Logistical challenges
Apart from the challenge of getting the numbers to push through constitutional amendments, the govt also has to tackle several logistical issues, including regularisation of electoral rolls for panchayat polls.
From electoral rolls to electronic voting machines and movement of personnel, the logistical requirements are enormous, sources said. In its submissions to the Kovind committee, Election Commission had sought a “definite lead time”, while projecting funds requirement for the exercise in 2029 at £795.1 mn.
While electoral rolls for assembly and Lok Sabha polls are streamlined and a rigorous process is adopted in preparing them, the process for local body polls need to be streamlined, govt officials said.
As per EC’s inputs sent to the Law Commission in March 2023 - which it had reiterated in its letter dated Jan 19, 2024, to the Kovind committee - the number of polling stations across the country would have to be increased to around 13,60,000 in 2029, requiring the deployment of 53,80,000 ballot units (BUs), 38,70,000 control units (CUs) and 41,60,000 voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPATs).
EC stated that while 30,80,000 BUs, 22,10,000 CUs and 23,80,000 would be available for synchronised polls in the 2029 general election cycle, 360,000 BUs and 125,000 CUs would have completed their life and would need to be phased out. It had projected a shortfall of 26,50,000 BUs, 17,80,000 CUs and 17,80,000 VVPATs.
