Critics Warn ‘One Nation, One Election’ Could Undermine Federal Structure

A diverse group of eminent citizens, including retired bureaucrats, judges, lawyers, professors, writers, and civil society leaders, gathered at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi on Saturday to voice strong opposition to the proposed ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative. The conclave, themed ‘One-Nation One-Election, Federalism and Citizenship’, saw participants argue that the proposal would fracture the country’s federal compact and curtail the autonomy of State Assemblies as envisioned by the Constitution.

Speakers expressed concerns beyond electoral synchronization. They criticized what they described as the degradation of the Indian Passport to “a mere travel document,” alleging that it has triggered anxieties about citizenship. The burden of proving citizenship, they claimed, has been shifted onto citizens themselves.

Former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa raised questions about the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He noted that no public data is available on how many individuals were removed from rolls due to ineligibility, only that deletions occurred due to migration. Lavasa demanded transparency: “Will this data be made public? The Supreme Court gave four weeks to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to submit names to Foreigners Tribunals. How many people have been referred? How did the ECI assess the health of electoral rolls?” He cited an example of an army colonel whose wife’s name was missing from the draft list, underscoring widespread anxiety among voters.

Former Supreme Court judges present argued that not just the constitutional right to vote but fundamental rights were being compromised. Participants alleged a crisis of trust in the ECI, accusing it of lacking transparency and resisting accountability. They demanded public disclosure of Form 17C, CCTV footage, presiding officer diaries, and other electoral records—claims they said the ECI has resisted.

Former Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai called for wider public consultation on the caste census, describing the 2027 Population Census as one of India’s most consequential demographic exercises. He noted that it would shape delimitation, women’s reservation, welfare allocation, and caste politics. Pillai stressed that success depends on transparency, public consultation, clear classification criteria, and careful implementation.

The conclave’s participants collectively urged the government to reconsider the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, emphasizing the need to preserve federal principles and electoral integrity.