New Delhi: In a significant move toward conducting simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, the Union Cabinet approved the One Nation One Election proposal on Wednesday. This marks a major step forward in the government’s efforts to streamline India’s electoral process.
According to sources, a bill outlining the plan for simultaneous elections is expected to be tabled during the upcoming winter session of Parliament. This decision follows the submission of a comprehensive report by a high-level committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which was tasked with examining the feasibility of holding elections simultaneously.
The committee, which was formed by the Modi 2.0 government, was established to fulfill a key promise made in the BJP’s Lok Sabha election manifesto. After thorough deliberations, the committee submitted its report to the President earlier in March this year.
The report, spanning over 18,626 pages, recommends that the initial phase of the process should focus on holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, which can be done without needing approval from individual states for constitutional amendments. The next step would involve aligning the elections of municipalities and panchayats with the Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections, which would require the consent of at least half of the states.
To bring the One Nation One Election concept to life, the panel has proposed up to 18 constitutional amendments. The BJP has been actively championing the idea of simultaneous elections, and it has gained significant attention, particularly after being emphasized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day address.
Prime Minister Modi has argued that frequent elections create disruptions in governance and hinder development. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also reiterated the government’s commitment to the initiative, stating that One Nation One Election will become a reality during the NDA’s current term in office.