Independence Day 2019: 'One nation, one election'- Consensus is key, says ex- CEC

We have too many elections at various levels. For ‘one nation, one election’ to become a reality, widespread consultations are needed, apart from constitutional amendments like in Article 356. An idea to examine is the US style, where all elections – national, provincial and local – are held every four years. We can have a system where the life of an assembly is fixed: if five years is too long, make it four or even three years. But many states and all stakeholders will have to be taken on board.

—N Gopalaswami, former chief election commissioner