The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the "One Nation, One Election" Bill, which is likely to be presented during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, as per sources.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Photo: PTI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has described the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative as a “historic” reform, emphasizing its potential to reduce costs and enhance governance. Prime Minister Modi has been a strong proponent of simultaneous elections, calling it an essential reform for the current political scenario.
Background of the proposal
In September, the Union Cabinet approved the recommendations of a high-level committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind. The committee suggested conducting phased simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies, contingent on achieving nationwide consensus.
Following 191 days of consultations with stakeholders, experts, and researchers, the committee presented its report to President Droupadi Murmu.
Members of the Committee
Arjun Ram Meghwal, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice, participated as a special invitee, with Dr. Niten Chandra serving as the committee's Secretary.
Enactment via Three Bills
To advance the "One Nation, One Election" initiative, the government has introduced three bills, which include two proposed constitutional amendments:
First Constitutional Amendment Bill
Enables joint elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
Suggests an amendment to Article 82A to establish provisions for the 'appointed date' and the simultaneous conclusion of terms for both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
Second Constitutional Amendment Bill
Must be approved by a majority of state assemblies.
Seeks to modify electoral roll provisions, ensuring cooperation between the Election Commission and State Election Commissions for local body elections.
Third Bill
Aligns the provisions for Union Territories with legislative assemblies — Puducherry, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir — to match those of the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
Suggests amendments to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act (1991), the Government of Union Territories Act (1963), and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act (2019).
The Path Forward
Aligning local body elections with Lok Sabha and state assembly elections would require constitutional amendments, which must be approved by at least 50 percent of the states.
The government plans to implement simultaneous elections in phases, in line with the nationwide consensus-building process suggested by the Kovind-led committee.
If implemented, this reform could reshape India’s electoral system by decreasing the frequency and cost of elections, while promoting administrative continuity and stability.
What is ‘One Nation, One Election’?
The "One Nation, One Election" proposal seeks to synchronize the Lok Sabha (national) and state Assembly elections, allowing voters across India to participate in both elections within the same year, though not necessarily on the same day.
At present, only a few states, including Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, and Odisha, conduct their state elections alongside the national elections. Most others, such as Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana, follow independent five-year election cycles, resulting in staggered voting timelines across the country.
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