NEW DELHI – The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is actively working towards implementing the 'One Nation, One Election' (ONOE) system in India in time for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. According to JPC Chairman P.P. Chaudhary, the initiative has received overwhelming backing, with approximately 99% of consulted citizens and organizations expressing their support.

Consultations and Upcoming JPC Report

The committee has been actively seeking input from experts and state leaders. During a recent visit to Goa, the JPC consulted with the Chief Minister and cabinet ministers.

BJP MP and JPC member Anurag Thakur highlighted the necessity of the reform, stating that if frequent elections disrupt governance and development in a small state like Goa, the adverse impact on larger states and the nation as a whole is significantly greater.

Next Steps for the JPC:

• Lucknow Visit: The committee's next destination is Lucknow, where they will hold discussions with the Chief Minister, opposition leaders, political parties, and various department officials.

• Report Submission: The JPC is scheduled to finalize its report and present it in Parliament on July 17.

Constitutional Feasibility and the Need for Consensus

Implementing simultaneous elections across a massive democracy requires significant structural adjustments. Anand Paliwal, former Law Commission member and Dean of Law at Mohanlal Sukhadia University, confirmed that constitutional options exist to roll out ONOE in phases.

To synchronize the electoral cycles, the government may need to:

• Hold elections in certain states before their current assembly terms officially end.

• Extend the tenures of specific state assemblies as a one-time adjustment.

Paliwal noted that India has altered the tenures of both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies under special circumstances in the past. However, executing this on a national scale will strictly require legal amendments passed by Parliament and broad political consensus.

Background: How the Electoral Cycle Shifted

The push for 'One Nation, One Election' aims to restore India's original electoral framework.

• The Golden Era of Simultaneous Polls (1952–1967): India successfully conducted concurrent elections for the Lok Sabha and most state assemblies four times.

• The Disruption: Post-1967, political instability caused several state governments to collapse. Between 1968 and 1969, multiple state assemblies were dissolved, and in 1970, the Lok Sabha was dissolved prematurely.

• The Aftermath: Mid-term Lok Sabha elections in 1971 permanently decoupled national and state poll schedules. Since then, coalition governments, the imposition of President's Rule, and premature elections have further widened the gap.

Both the Law Commission and NITI Aayog have repeatedly recommended returning to a unified electoral cycle to save public funds and reduce administrative fatigue.

To formalize this effort, a high-level panel chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind was established on September 2, 2023. After 191 days of extensive research and stakeholder consultations, the panel submitted its comprehensive recommendations to President Droupadi Murmu on March 14, laying the groundwork for the current JPC actions.