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How India plans to vote in a 'one nation, one election' in 2034

How India plans to vote in a 'one nation, one election' in 2034

First Post10-06-2025

Simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state legislatures are provided for under the 2024 Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the 2024 Union Territories Laws (Amendment Bill) read more
Since the government intends to hold the first nationwide simultaneous polls by 2034 following the ratification of the constitutional reform bill for 'one nation, one election', all state assemblies elected after 2029 would serve for a shorter period of time to synchronise their term with the 2034 general elections.
PP Choudhary, head of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the 'one nation, one election' bill (The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024), told Times of India that the assembly, which is set to be elected in 2032, may only serve a two-year term after 2027 in order to ensure that the next elections in Uttar Pradesh, the largest state in India, coincide with the Lok Sabha elections, which may occur in 2034.
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Simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state legislatures are provided for under the 2024 Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the 2024 Union Territories Laws (Amendment Bill).
According to the constitution amendment bill, the President may announce when the next general elections are due by announcing the date of the Lok Sabha's first session following a general election, which is most likely scheduled for 2029.
When the Lok Sabha's five-year term ends, the tenure of all state assemblies established after this date would also end. An election for the Lok Sabha or state legislature will be conducted for a term equivalent to the remaining five years if it is dissolved before its five-year mandate.
As a result, its subsequent election will coincide with the cycle of simultaneous elections. Assembly elections will only be held to coincide with the Lok Sabha elections, even in states where polls are scheduled.
The bill does, however, stipulate that the Election Commission may propose to the President that elections for a state assembly be held separately from those for the rest of the nation if it believes that this is not possible. The President may issue an order to hold elections for that assembly at a later date.
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Choudhary, the BJP MP for Pali in Rajasthan, stated that based on the JPC's operations, the panel's term may be prolonged because the members agreed to visit states and union territories prior to delivering their final recommendations.
To date, JPC members have travelled to Uttarakhand and Maharashtra.
The bills were filed in the LS in December of last year and submitted to the Chaudhary-led panel, which has been consulting with stakeholders for comments.

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She claims that there is a pattern of structural exclusion and systematic discrimination against Dalit and Adivasi students, and that this legislation is important to create a 'safer academic environment' for them. But critics also raise questions of political motivation and appropriation of the long-fought struggles of activists like Radhika Vemula and Abeda Tadvi in creating an equitable and safe educational space by Rahul Gandhi and the Congress. According to the UNHRC special rapporteurs, the draft law has the potential to make effective changes – but this can only be realised if such expert criticism and recommendations are taken into account and the drafting process becomes more publicly participatory. Tamoghna Chakraborty is an intern at The Wire. If you know someone – a friend or a family member – at risk of suicide, please reach out to them. The Suicide Prevention India Foundation maintains a list of telephone numbers they can call to speak in confidence. The TeleManas helpline, a government helpline, functions 24×7, its numbers are 1-800 891-4416 or 14416. You could also take them to the nearest hospital.

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