Dear Editor,
The critique of the One Nation, One Election (ONOE) proposal presents a strong argument against its implementation, particularly from the perspective of democratic representation and economic power concentration. The main concerns that are outlined highlight the risk of further entrenching the big bourgeoisie’s influence in elections, suppressing the regional voices and issues, and failing to address systemic flaws in the electoral process.
A few key points stand out in the analysis:
- Monopoly Capitalist Influence – The reform would allow big capitalists to concentrate their resources once every five years rather than them continuously funding state and central elections. This could further skew political outcomes in favor of corporate-backed parties.
- Suppression of Regional Issues – Holding elections simultaneously across India would likely diminish regional political discourse, as national parties with greater financial resources could overshadow local issues.
- Failure to Address Core Democratic Issues- ONOE does not tackle deeper electoral problems such as the lack of public participation in candidate selection, the inability to recall non-performing representatives, or the undue influence of corporate lobbies on policy-making.
- Need for Systemic Reform- Instead of focusing on the timing of elections, electoral reforms should aim at increasing public participation, state-funded campaigns, and equal media access for all candidates.
What is definitely needed is a fundamental restructuring of the political system—one that empowers workers and peasants rather than further empowering the big capitalists and their political elites.
Sumitra
Nashik