In a significant move towards synchronizing elections, the Union Cabinet has approved the "One Nation, One Election" bill, paving the way for simultaneous and synchronized elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies. The bill, expected to be introduced in the ongoing winter session of Parliament, fulfils a long-standing promise from the BJP’s manifesto. This initiative follows the recommendations of a high-level panel led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which proposes implementing the plan in two phases.
The first phase suggests holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The second phase aims to align local body elections with these general elections, ensuring they occur within 100 days of the Lok Sabha polls. However, this phase would require approval from at least half of India's states.
The panel’s 18,626-page report also recommends 18 constitutional amendments to facilitate the proposal. These reforms include a unified electoral roll and synchronized voting processes for all levels of government. The bill has been met with both support and resistance: while NDA allies like Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) and Chirag Paswan’s party back the idea, opposition parties such as Congress and AAP argue that the move could unfairly benefit the ruling party at the Centre.
To address these concerns, the government plans to refer the bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for further discussion and to gather broader support. It will also solicit inputs from state assembly speakers, experts, intellectuals, and civil society members.
