Simultaneous Elections: Economists Give Views to the Joint Committee on the 129th Amendment Bill
A group of economists, including S. Gurumurthy and Shamika Ravi, appeared before the Joint Committee of Parliament that is studying the "One Nation, One Election" Bills.
The committee is examining two Bills: the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024. It is chaired by P. P. Chaudhary, a Lok Sabha MP.
The economists shared their views on the economic side of holding Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections together: costs of frequent polls, effects on growth and spending, and the impact of long periods under the Model Code of Conduct.
This is part of a long series of hearings. Earlier, the committee heard former judges, legal experts, the Law Commission and other economists. Its tenure has been extended several times by the Lok Sabha.
The committee will finally give its report to Parliament. Parliament will then decide whether to pass the Bills, which need a special majority because they amend the Constitution.
Simultaneous Elections (One Nation, One Election)
Simultaneous elections means holding elections to the Lok Sabha and all State Legislative Assemblies at the same time, so that voters cast both votes in one election season. India did this from 1951-52 to 1967. The cycle broke after some Assemblies, and later the Lok Sabha, were dissolved early. The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 is the government's plan to bring back a common cycle.
The economists' hearing focuses on the money and growth side of this debate. Their evidence will feed into the Joint Committee's report, which will shape how Parliament judges the cost-benefit case for simultaneous elections.
Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)
A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is a small group of MPs from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, set up for one specific task, such as studying a Bill in detail or investigating a matter. It is an ad hoc committee: it ends once it submits its report. A JPC can call experts, officials and the public to give evidence. Its report is advisory: Parliament and the government are not bound to accept it.
The economists appeared before this JPC as expert witnesses. Hearing outside experts is exactly how a JPC builds a detailed, evidence-based report before Parliament votes on a Bill.
Model Code of Conduct (MCC)
The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is a set of rules issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) that political parties, candidates and governments must follow during elections. It tells them what they can and cannot do while campaigning, for example no appeals based on religion or caste, and no new government schemes to attract voters. It comes into force the day the ECI announces the election schedule and stays until the results are declared. It is not a law passed by Parliament; it is a code agreed by the parties themselves.
One of the main economic arguments put before the Joint Committee is that frequent elections keep the MCC in force too often, slowing new projects and spending. Simultaneous elections would put the whole country under the MCC only once in five years.
- Joint Committee examines the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024
- Committee: 39 members from both Houses; first meeting 8 January 2025; chaired by P. P. Chaudhary
- Kovind Committee report: submitted 14 March 2024
- Proposed new Article 82A; amendments to Articles 83, 172 and 327
- Simultaneous elections were held in India from 1951-52 to 1967
- Kovind Committee estimate: about 1.5 percentage points higher GDP growth in the year after simultaneous polls
- A constitutional amendment under Article 368 needs a special majority in each House: a majority of total membership, and two-thirds of members present and voting