### Historic Decision: One Nation, One Election Bill to be Introduced in Parliament*
*By Gopendra Nath Bhatt*
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has taken a historic step towards implementing the "One Nation, One Election" concept. After completing its first 100 days in office, the Modi 3.0 government convened its first Cabinet meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister in New Delhi. During this meeting, recommendations made by a high-level committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind were accepted, marking a major milestone in India’s electoral reforms.
The Kovind Committee has recommended holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies in the first phase. In the second phase, elections for local bodies—municipalities and panchayats—would be conducted within 100 days of the general elections. This decision paves the way for the simultaneous elections of 543 Lok Sabha seats and 4,130 state assembly seats across the country. A uniform electoral roll will also be prepared for all these elections, and an implementation group will be established to oversee the process.
Notably, during its previous tenure, the Modi government formed this committee under former President Kovind to explore the possibility of conducting simultaneous elections nationwide. The committee, after consultations with various stakeholders and political parties, submitted its recommendations during the previous government. The proposal includes shortening the terms of existing state assemblies to align all elections in the future. Additionally, local body elections would be held shortly after the general and state elections. In March, former President Kovind submitted his report to President Droupadi Murmu, and on Wednesday, the Union Cabinet accepted the committee’s report.
The high-level committee had reached out to 62 political parties, of which 47 responded. Among them, 32 parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies, supported the idea of simultaneous elections, while 15 parties, including Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Aam Aadmi Party, opposed it. Following the Cabinet’s decision on the "One Nation, One Election" initiative, political tensions have risen across the country. The BJP and its allies have hailed the decision as historic, while opposition parties have criticized it, accusing the government of having a hidden agenda and political motives. Some critics have even compared this move to the American electoral system, arguing that India is being pushed toward a similar model.
Responding to the approval of the One Nation, One Election proposal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that there is no political motive behind this decision. In the Cabinet meeting, Modi emphasized that the people of India have long demanded such an initiative, and the government is acting in the public's best interest. He further noted that frequent elections disrupt governance and development activities. Most importantly, law and order are often compromised, which is detrimental to the nation.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister announced that the Cabinet has accepted the recommendations of the high-level committee on simultaneous elections. He praised former President Kovind for leading this initiative and consulting with various stakeholders, calling it a significant step toward making India's democracy more vibrant and participatory. Modi reiterated that India needs One Nation, One Election, and there can be no debate on this necessity. The central government is expected to table the One Nation, One Election Bill during the winter session of Parliament, after which it will become law.
Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, addressed the media at the National Media Centre in New Delhi, providing details of the Cabinet's decision. Vaishnaw recalled that from 1951 to 1967, India held simultaneous elections for both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. In 1999, the Law Commission’s 170th report recommended that elections be held every five years for both the Lok Sabha and assemblies to ensure continuous development in the country. In 2015, a parliamentary committee, in its 79th report, suggested the government devise a method to conduct elections in two phases. This led to the formation of the high-level committee under former President Kovind, which consulted a wide range of stakeholders, including political parties, judges, and constitutional experts. The minister mentioned that the government will now seek broader support for the proposal and will introduce a constitutional amendment bill when the time is right. Many political parties and their leaders have expressed support for the One Nation, One Election initiative, with inputs being shared concisely and clearly during high-level meetings. The government believes in building consensus on issues that will have a long-term impact on democracy and the nation. Vaishnaw emphasized that this move would strengthen India.
Historically, in 1952, when India held its first democratic elections, many constituencies elected two candidates—one from the general category and one from the majority caste in that area. While this practice was discontinued after 1952, simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and assemblies were held until 1967. Over time, due to various reasons, including the imposition of President’s Rule in some states, elections for the Lok Sabha and assemblies stopped being held simultaneously. There is no doubt that the frequent elections in India have resulted in a year-round electoral cycle, with model codes of conduct regularly halting development projects. For instance, in Rajasthan, assembly elections are held every five years in November-December, leaving the newly elected government with only a few months before the Lok Sabha elections are announced. This cycle, along with local body elections, consumes nearly half of the government's term, severely impacting administrative and developmental work, leading to underperformance. The trend of governments changing every five years in Rajasthan over the past three decades is also attributed to this electoral cycle.
With the implementation of One Nation, One Election, states will no longer face these hurdles, allowing central and state governments sufficient time to execute their policies and programs.
Now, all eyes are on the Parliament. If the bill is passed with a two-thirds majority, it will become law, and it is expected that the One Nation, One Election system could be implemented as early as 2025. However, it remains to be seen whether the bill will face additional challenges or move forward smoothly.
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