PAPER ID:IJIM/Vol. 10 (X)February/43-48/5

AUTHOR: Dr.Gedam. Kamalakar[i] Dr. Kandi Kamala[ii]

TITLE : POLITICAL STRATEGY AND ELECTORAL REFORM: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF ONE NATION, ONE ELECTION AND THE BJP

ABSTRACT:The proposal of One Nation, One Election (ONOE) has re-emerged as a significant electoral reform debate in India, framed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party as a mechanism to enhance governance efficiency, reduce electoral expenditure, and ensure policy continuity. This paper critically examines ONOE not merely as an administrative reform, but as a strategic political project with far-reaching implications for India’s federal structure, democratic pluralism, and electoral competition. By situating ONOE within the broader political strategy of the BJP, the study explores how synchronized elections may recalibrate Centre–State relations, reshape opposition mobilization, and potentially advantage dominant national parties over regional actors. Drawing on constitutional provisions, committee reports, electoral data, and comparative international experiences, the paper argues that while ONOE promises procedural efficiency, it risks centralizing political power and weakening the autonomy of state-level democratic processes. The study concludes that electoral reforms of this magnitude require broad political consensus, constitutional safeguards, and deeper deliberation to ensure that efficiency does not come at the cost of democratic diversity and federal balance.

KEYWORDS: One Nation, One Election; Bharatiya Janata Party; Electoral Reforms; Indian Federalism; Democratic Governance; Electoral Strategy; Centre–State Relations; Constitutional Challenges; Political Centralization

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