Lok Sabha adjourned sine die; 'One Nation, One Election' Bill referred to Joint Parliamentary Committee
The concept of ' One Nation, One Election' proposes that all elections for both Lok Sabha (central government) and state assemblies be held in same year, if not on same day
PTC Web Desk: On Friday morning, two Bills aimed at amending the Indian Constitution to facilitate simultaneous federal and state elections by 2034 were referred to a 39-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). This decision came at the close of a dramatic Lok Sabha winter session, which saw heightened tensions between the Congress and BJP over a controversial remark by Home Minister Amit Shah, who had said, “Ambedkar is the fashion,” triggering protests and counter-protests. Following the referral of the Bills, the Lower House was adjourned sine die.
The committee includes key opposition figures, such as Congress MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Manish Tewari, and Trinamool Congress leaders Kalyan Banerjee and Saket Gokhale. On the government side, prominent members like former Union Minister Anurag Thakur, Sambit Patra, and Anil Baluni will represent the ruling BJP.
The panel has been expanded to 39 members, with smaller parties demanding representation. Notably, the committee does not yet include the JDU of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar or the TDP of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who are seen as supportive of the BJP-led government.
The JPC’s initial term is 90 days, with the possibility of an extension. Its main task is to conduct “wider consultations” on five proposed amendments to the Constitution. These amendments include measures to align the terms of state and union territory assemblies with the Lok Sabha, potentially altering or limiting their durations. The Election Commission, which will play a central role in organising the proposed simultaneous elections, is also expected to be consulted.
The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha earlier this week by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, leading to sharp protests from opposition parties. The Congress, along with two members of the INDIA bloc—Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress—have condemned the move. They argue that the proposed changes undermine the country’s federal structure by diluting the independence of state legislatures. The ruling BJP, however, has voiced support for the initiative, asserting that synchronising the election calendar could have several economic benefits, including reducing "policy paralysis" and cutting costs associated with frequent elections.
What is 'One Nation, One Election'?
The concept of "One Nation, One Election" proposes that all elections for both the Lok Sabha (central government) and state assemblies be held in the same year, if not on the same day. As of now, elections are staggered, with each state following its own cycle, leading to a more complex and expensive process.
In 2024, only four states—Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Odisha—are holding their state elections alongside the Lok Sabha election. Other states, such as Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir, are holding elections at different times, with other states following a five-year cycle. For instance, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana conducted their elections last year, while Delhi and Bihar are scheduled to vote in 2025. Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are among those set to hold elections in 2026.
Can 'One Nation, One Election' work?
For "One Nation, One Election" to become a reality, significant amendments to the Constitution are necessary. These include changes to Articles 83 (Parliament’s term), 85 (dissolution of Lok Sabha), 172 (terms of state legislatures), 174 (dissolution of state legislatures), and possibly Article 356 (President’s Rule). Legal experts have cautioned that without passing these amendments, the proposal may face challenges, potentially violating India’s federal structure.
The path to implementing simultaneous elections also involves gaining the approval of both the central government and the individual state governments. The proposed changes are expected to face scrutiny from political parties and legal experts alike, with some fearing that the amendments may centralise power at the expense of state autonomy.