EC can conduct 'One Nation One Election' within six months' notice, says Parliamentary panel chief
The chairperson of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the 'One Nation, One Election' (simultaneous elections) bills stated that the Election Commission has indicated it can conduct simultaneous Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections if given six months' advance notice
The Election Commission's position was conveyed in its submission to the JPC currently examining the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the related Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024
The committee chairperson stated the panel is working to build consensus among members before recommending the legislation to Parliament
Parliament had earlier extended the JPC's tenure to allow it more time to complete its examination and consultations
The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 — Amending Articles 83 and 172
The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 17 December 2024 to enable simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and all State Legislative Assemblies. It principally amends Article 83 (duration of Houses of Parliament) and Article 172 (duration of State Legislative Assemblies) by introducing the concepts of "unexpired term" and "full term" — so that if the Lok Sabha or an Assembly is dissolved before completing its five-year term, a fresh "mid-term election" fills only the unexpired term, keeping all houses on a common electoral cycle. It was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee on 19 December 2024.
Key Details
- Bill introduced: 17 December 2024, by the Minister of Law and Justice, in Lok Sabha
- Core amendments: Article 83 (Parliament) and Article 172 (State Assemblies) — introduces "unexpired term" vs "full term" distinction
- Companion bill: Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, to align UT assembly terms (Puducherry, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir)
- Both bills are before a Joint Parliamentary Committee chaired by a Lok Sabha MP; the JPC's tenure has been extended, with the current deadline set for the Monsoon Session, 2026
The EC's six-month readiness assurance is being placed on record as part of the JPC's fact-finding process on the 129th Amendment Bill, addressing the practical/logistical feasibility question that is central to the committee's consensus-building exercise.
Ram Nath Kovind Committee Report (2024) — Basis for the Simultaneous Elections Proposal
A High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, was constituted to examine the feasibility of simultaneous elections and submitted its report in March 2024. The committee recommended a phased implementation — first synchronising Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections, and later aligning local body elections within 100 days — requiring a total of 18 constitutional amendments, most of which do not require state ratification since they largely concern Union List/Parliament-related provisions, except a few (like local body synchronisation) that touch the concurrent domain and may require State Assembly ratification under Article 368.
Key Details
- Chair: Ram Nath Kovind (former President of India); report submitted to the President in March 2024
- Recommended 18 constitutional amendments in total
- Key phased approach: (1) simultaneous Lok Sabha + State Assembly polls, (2) local body elections synchronised within 100 days of the general election
- Also recommended a single electoral roll and single voter ID card prepared in consultation with State Election Commissions
The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 operationalises the first phase of the Kovind Committee's roadmap; the EC's readiness statement to the JPC addresses whether the administrative machinery (staffing, EVMs/VVPATs, security forces) can support this phase within the committee's proposed timeline.
Constitutional Amendment Procedure — Article 368 and Majority Requirements
Amendments to provisions like Article 83 and Article 172 that affect the "manner of election" and relations between the Union and the States are classified under Article 368(2) as requiring not just a special majority in Parliament (two-thirds of members present and voting, and a majority of the total membership of each House) but also ratification by at least half of the State Legislatures, since they touch the federal structure.
Key Details
- Special majority under Article 368: two-thirds of members present and voting + more than 50% of total membership of each House
- State ratification (Article 368(2) proviso) required for amendments affecting matters listed therein, including federal/election-related provisions
- The JPC route (rather than a Select Committee of one House) reflects the bill's significance, allowing detailed cross-party scrutiny given the amendment's implications for Centre-State electoral cycles
Whether the 129th Amendment Bill ultimately requires State ratification is itself a live constitutional question the JPC is examining; the EC's operational readiness is only one part of a broader feasibility and consensus assessment before the bill can proceed to a vote.
- EC's stated readiness timeline for simultaneous elections: 6 months' advance notice
- Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024: introduced 17 December 2024; referred to JPC on 19 December 2024
- Ram Nath Kovind Committee report: submitted March 2024; recommended 18 constitutional amendments
- Key articles amended: Article 83 (Parliament duration) and Article 172 (State Assembly duration)
- Special majority for constitutional amendment under Article 368: two-thirds present and voting + majority of total membership, plus State ratification where the federal structure is affected
- JPC tenure extended to the Monsoon Session, 2026 for continued examination