Modi Govt May Introduce ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill In Winter Session, JPC To Seek Consensus: Reports

The Modi government reportedly plans to introduce the "One Nation, One Election" Bill in the ongoing Winter Session of the Parliament. The bill may be sent to a JPC for comprehensive discussions.

The government is reportedly ready to introduce the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill, during the ongoing parliamentary Winter session. The bill, intended to synchronise elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, has received cabinet approval based on the recommendations of the former president Ram Nath Kovind-led committee. 

According to sources cited by NDTV and India Today, the government plans to send the bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive process. The JPC will engage in detailed discussions with representatives from all political parties, emphasising the need for collective agreement on this transformative initiative.

Furthermore, the government intends to involve a diverse range of stakeholders in the discussions. Speakers from all state assemblies, intellectuals, experts, and members of civil society will be invited to share their views, the reports said. Additionally, the government aims to gather inputs from the general public to foster inclusivity and transparency in the decision-making process.

During the deliberations, key aspects of the bill, including its benefits and the logistical methods for implementing simultaneous elections across the country, will be thoroughly examined. By addressing diverse perspectives, the government hopes to achieve a national consensus on the initiative.

Initially, the government wants to involve the public and will discuss the specific methods and approaches to achieve this step later, as per NDTV sources. The government could either introduce the bill in this session or the upcoming one, India Today reported sources as saying.

While the government remains optimistic about securing widespread support, the proposal is expected to ignite intense political debate. Opposition parties are likely to raise concerns about its feasibility and potential impact on federalism.

Former President Ram Nath Kovind led a committee that submitted a report on conducting simultaneous elections in India just before the Lok Sabha elections. The committee thoroughly studied various aspects and carefully weighed the pros and cons of holding elections simultaneously. They recommended hosting Lok Sabha and Assembly polls together, similar to the practice in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim this year. Additionally, they suggested conducting local body polls within 100 days of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

The panel, formed in September last year, further proposed the formation of an ‘implementation group’ to oversee the execution of its recommendations. The Kovind-led committee emphasised that implementing the ‘one nation, one election’ policy would lead to resource savings and contribute to the development of India.

‘One Nation, One Election’ Scheme And Legislative Challenges

The ‘One Nation, One Election’ scheme advocates for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Currently, a few states, such as Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim, conduct their assembly elections simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls. However, other states witness their assembly elections later according to the end of their five-year assembly terms.

While synchronising these elections with the Lok Sabha polls is manageable, convincing other states to adopt the same routine poses a significant challenge, as each state follows its own electoral cycle.

However, if the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill is passed, all state elections would be held concurrently with the Lok Sabha polls, potentially on the same day.

Another obstacle to overcome is amending the Indian Constitution. If the Bill is introduced during the winter session of Parliament, it requires a Constitutional amendment, which necessitates approval from 67% of Lok Sabha members, 67% of Rajya Sabha members, and 50% of state legislatures.

At least six bills would be required to amend the Constitution. While the BJP-led NDA has a simple majority in both houses of parliament, securing a two-thirds majority in either house poses a challenge to passing the bill.

The NDA has 112 out of the 245 seats in Rajya Sabha while the Opposition parties have 85. Here, the government needs at least 164 votes.

In the Lok Sabha, the NDA has 292 seats out of a total of 545. The two-thirds majority mark is at 364. It must be noted that the majority would be counted only in terms of the members present and voting.