Minister Meghwal to Table ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill in Lok Sabha on Monday

Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will introduce the One Nation, One Election bill in the Lok Sabha on December 16. The Union Cabinet cleared the constitutional amendment bill earlier this week.
Meghwal will introduce

The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill. The draft legislations would help the country have concurrent elections across the country. One bill is to amend the Constitution so that there can be a synchronised election. The other would be an amendment to have laws in Union Territories aligned with the constitutional amendment.

A high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind was tasked with evaluating its feasibility. Although the committee suggested inclusion of municipal and panchayat elections in a phased manner, the Cabinet has opted not to address local body elections in the current proposal.

The initiative has sparked political debate, with sharp divides between the ruling BJP-led NDA and opposition parties.

The BJP and its allies, including JD(U) and LJP, have voiced strong support, highlighting the proposal’s potential to reduce costs, ensure policy continuity, and boost governance efficiency. BJP MP Anil Baluni welcomed the move, saying, "The proposed bill will strengthen the country's democracy and pave the way for development." JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, who has been a long-time proponent of the idea, echoed similar sentiments, calling it a necessary reform to streamline governance and avoid disruptions caused by frequent elections.

Opposition parties under the INDIA bloc, including Congress, AAP, and Trinamool Congress, have raised apprehensions that simultaneous polls will jeopardize regional autonomy and the principle of electoral fairness. It could be seen as a move that would centralize power at the center and undermine federal principles.

The Kovind-panel reviewed the electoral systems at Germany, Indonesia, and Japan, observing that simultaneous elections brought administrative stability, encouraged electorate participation, and could thereby increase GDP by up to 1.5%. Former President Kovind termed the initiative "a game-changer" for the democracy of India.