Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is poised to introduce the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha today, December 17, which seeks to advance the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative. This significant legislation advocates for simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies across India. Additionally, Meghwal will present amendments to various acts, including the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. These changes aim to align elections in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry with the proposed simultaneous election framework.
The proposal follows the Union Cabinet’s approval of a High-Level Committee’s recommendations on Simultaneous Elections, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind. The committee suggests a two-phase strategy: combining Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the first phase and scheduling local body elections within 100 days subsequent to general elections. A uniform electoral roll across all election levels is also recommended.
The proposal has elicited varied reactions, with BJP-led NDA parties supporting the initiative for its cost-saving and efficiency advantages, while several opposition parties in the INDIA bloc have expressed skepticism. As the government pushes this transformative electoral reform, the Lok Sabha session is anticipated to be a stage for intense debate.
