Why One Nation, One Election might have to wait till 2034
Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Centre's ambitious One Nation, One Election initiative, which seeks to synchronise elections for the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha, is unlikely to be implemented before 2034, according to BJP MP PP Chaudhary, who is chairing the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the proposed Bill.The 129th Constitutional Amendment Bill, approved by the Union Cabinet in December 2024, outlined a framework for simultaneous national and state-level elections. The Bill was tabled in the Lok Sabha in December 2024, and just a few days later, it was referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee, which BJP's Pali MP, Chaudhary, is chairing.advertisementThe One Nation, One Election draws from the recommendations of the High-level Committee on Simultaneous Elections, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind. He submitted a 18,626-page report to President Droupadi Murmu in March 2024.
But despite the Centre's legislative push, India is unlikely to see simultaneous polls before 2034, as the timeline depends on complex logistical, legal, and political preparations, a point recently reiterated by the JPC Chairperson.WHY ONOE CAN'T HAPPEN BEFORE 2034In a recent interview with The Indian Express, when asked about the timeline for the first simultaneous elections, PP Chaudhary said: "The committee will deliberate; Parliament will decide. We can't say when, but the Bill says the first session of Parliament. If it happens with the appointed date, then it would be from 2034".The primary reason the One Nation, One Election plan can't be enforced before 2034 is because of how the Bill is structured. The Bill proposes adding a new Article 82A to the Constitution. This article would let the President announce an "appointed date" during the first sitting of a newly-elected Lok Sabha. But since the first sitting of the current (18th) Lok Sabha commenced in 2024, it could be done next in 2029.advertisementFollowing the President's notification of the appointed date, the terms of state legislative assemblies elected thereafter will be curtailed to synchronise with the five-year term of the Lok Sabha commencing in 2029.This means that any state assembly elected after the appointed date -- whether its term begins in 2031 or 2033 -- will have to end by 2034, so that its next election can align with the Lok Sabha cycle starting that year.So the next opportunity for the President to notify would come only after the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. If the Bill passes by then, the next Lok Sabha will run until 2034, and that's when simultaneous elections could begin.WHAT ELSE IS HOLDING BACK ONOEApart from this, there are other significant challenges as well.For the One Nation, One Election Bill to become law, it must be passed by a two-thirds majority by both houses of Parliament. After enactment, it would also have to be ratified by at least 50% of state legislatures, which looks like a challenging task given the National Democratic Alliance's numbers in Parliament.While the NDA holds a little over 290 seats in the Lok Sabha and 129 in the Rajya Sabha, it falls short of the two-thirds majority required -- 364 in the Lok Sabha and 164 in the Rajya Sabha -- to pass the Bill.advertisementTherefore, the Narendra Modi-led Centre will need support from parties outside its coalition, a point emphasised by Chaudhary, who said, "parties who think of the national interest would support the Bills".From the perspective of ratification by state and Union Territory assemblies, as of June 2025, the NDA holds power in 20 of India's 30 legislative assemblies, while the INDIA bloc governs 10, a number that works in the NDA's favour.However, getting the Bill through Parliament will require extensive deliberation, and there's always the possibility that the numbers may shift over time.Then, there are logistical and financial challenges too.The Election Commission of India (ECI) needs to double the number of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and upgrade infrastructure to conduct simultaneous elections. The ECI estimated that it would need Rs 10,000 crore every 15 years for new EVMs if simultaneous polls were to be held, reported news agency PTI.However, by 2029, numbers may change, and building consensus after extensive consultation would be required. This challenge is reflected in the plans of the 39-member parliamentary panel, led by Chaudhary, which is set to visit all states and Union Territories over the next two to two-and-a-half years and gather feedback on the proposed legislation.Must Watch
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