Modi Government Advances 'One Nation, One Election' Initiative

The Modi administration, having implemented numerous significant legal and administrative reforms, is now progressing towards the goal of 'One Nation, One Election.' Reports indicate that following the passage of the constitutional amendment bill for this initiative, the government plans to conduct simultaneous elections across the country for the first time by 2034. This will involve shortening the terms of all state assemblies elected after 2029 to align with the general elections scheduled for 2034.

PP Chaudhary, the chairperson of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) formed to discuss the 'One Nation, One Election' bill (Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024), informed the media that the term for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in 2032 could be limited to just two years. This adjustment aims to synchronize the elections of the largest state assembly with the Lok Sabha elections in 2034. The constitutional amendment bill includes provisions for conducting simultaneous elections for both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

According to the provisions of the constitutional amendment bill, the President may issue a notification on the date of the first meeting following the Lok Sabha elections (likely after the general elections in 2029), announcing the date for the next general elections. Subsequently, the terms of all newly formed state assemblies will conclude with the five-year term of that Lok Sabha. If the Lok Sabha or any state assembly is dissolved before completing five years, elections will only be held for the remaining term. This ensures a timeline for conducting the next elections simultaneously. In states where elections are scheduled, they will also be coordinated with the Lok Sabha elections.

However, the bill also stipulates that if the Election Commission believes that it is not feasible to hold elections for a particular state assembly concurrently with the rest of the country, it can recommend an alternative date to the President. The President may then issue an order for elections on that new date. PP Chaudhary, the BJP MP from Pali and chair of the parliamentary committee, mentioned that the JPC's duration might be extended, as members have agreed to visit various states and union territories to gather ground feedback before making final recommendations. So far, committee members have visited Maharashtra and Uttarakhand.

It is worth noting that from 1951-52 to 1967, Lok Sabha and state assembly elections were predominantly held together. This practice has since broken down, leading to annual elections in various parts of the country, which not only increases government expenditure but also disrupts the implementation of various schemes due to the model code of conduct. Additionally, the deployment of security forces and election officials for these elections affects their primary departmental responsibilities.

The Law Commission of India, in its 170th report on electoral reforms, observed that "the cycle of elections occurring every year without appropriate timing should be concluded. We should revisit the previous situation where elections for the Lok Sabha and all assemblies were conducted simultaneously. It is true that we cannot foresee all situations or contingencies, and conducting separate elections for any assembly should be an exception rather than the rule. The norm should be 'one election every five years for the Lok Sabha and all assemblies.'"