The Union Cabinet on Wednesday (September 18, 2024) unanimously accepted the report submitted by a high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind that explored the feasibility of ‘one nation, one election’ (ONOE).
Addressing media persons, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said simultaneous polls would be held in two phases. In the first phase, Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections will be conducted simultaneously, while the second phase will cover local body elections, within 100 days of general elections.
The Kovind committee had submitted its report to the government in March, shortly before the announcement of Lok Sabha elections 2024. The panel had recommended that the government take a “one-time transitory measure”, which would require the Union government to identify an “appointed date” immediately after a Lok Sabha election. All state assemblies that go to poll after the said date would have their terms expire with the Parliament.
This would synchronize the electoral cycles of the central and state governments and bring back simultaneous elections.
Then, as the second step, municipality and panchayat elections should be held within 100 days of the Lok Sabha and state elections.
To ensure that synchronicity is not disrupted due to the premature dissolution of the Parliament or a state assembly due to a no-confidence motion, a hung House or any other event, the committee has suggested that fresh elections should be conducted only for the remainder of the term, or the “unexpired term”, until the next cycle of simultaneous polls is due.
Despite a reduced Lok Sabha tally for the BJP, the NDA government has affirmed its commitment to implementing simultaneous polls, which will necessitate constitutional amendments. Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated this commitment, stating that the “one nation, one election” plan will be pursued within the current term of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also urged for collective support for the legislation during his Independence Day address.