The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved bills on Thursday (December 12, 2024) to implement the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative, according to PTI report. The draft legislations are expected to be introduced in the ongoing Winter session of Parliament.
Sources indicated that the government plans to hold wider consultations on the Bills, which are likely to be referred to a parliamentary committee. Additionally, the committee will consult Speakers of various State Legislative Assemblies as part of the process.
In September, the government accepted the recommendations of a high-level committee to hold simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, and local bodies in a phased manner.
One of the proposed Bills seeks to amend Article 82A of the Constitution by adding sub-clause (1), which relates to an appointed date, and sub-clause (2), which aligns the end of terms for the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. It also proposes amendments to Article 83(2) and the addition of sub-clauses (3) and (4) concerning the duration and dissolution of the Lok Sabha. Further amendments to Article 327 will incorporate the term “simultaneous elections.”
While the proposed constitutional amendment does not require ratification by 50% of State Legislatures, any move to align local body elections with Lok Sabha and State Assemblies will require State ratification as it pertains to matters under State jurisdiction.
Another Bill will propose amendments to align the terms of Union Territories with Legislative Assemblies, including Puducherry, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir, with the Lok Sabha and other State Assemblies. This will involve amending the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act-1991, the Government of Union Territories Act-1963, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act-2019. Notably, this Bill is categorized as an ordinary legislation and does not require constitutional amendments or State ratifications.
The high-level committee had recommended 18 changes, including amendments to three Articles, the addition of 12 new sub-clauses, and revisions to three Union Territory laws. In its report submitted to the government in March 2024, the committee suggested implementing the ‘One Nation, One Election’ framework in two phases.