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The Cabinet has approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, seeks to align Lok Sabha and state assembly elections to a unified schedule.
NEW DELHI: Modi 3.0 Cabinet has approved the proposal for ‘One Nation, One Election,’ on Wednesday, which aims at synchronizing Lok Sabha and state assembly elections on a single schedule, according to media sources.
The decision follows Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent statement that the government will implement the initiative within its current term.The proposal is expected to be tabled as a bill in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.
Earlier this week, Congress leader P. Chidambaram, while addressing reporters, stated that “One Nation, One Election” is not feasible under the current Constitution. He emphasized that it would require at least five constitutional amendments and highlighted even greater constitutional hurdles. Chidambaram further added that the INDIA bloc is firmly opposed to the idea of ‘One Nation, One Election’.
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In March 2024, a high-level committee, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, submitted an 18,626-page report to President Droupadi Murmu. The committee gathered input from various political parties, citizens, and experts.
Out of 47 political parties consulted, 32 supported the idea of simultaneous elections. A public notice also received 21,558 responses, with 80% backing the proposal.
Legal experts, including former Chief Justices of India and Chief Election Commissioners, contributed insights, while business organizations like CII, FICCI, and ASSOCHAM warned of economic disruption from staggered elections. They noted that asynchronous polls could contribute to inflation, slow growth, and strain public finances.
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Separately, the Law Commission is expected to release its report on simultaneous elections, potentially recommending starting the process in 2029. This report is also expected to propose measures for unity governments in cases of hung houses or no-confidence motions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has long advocated for the concept since bringing the BJP to power in 2014, envisioning simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies such as municipalities and panchayats.
