Constitutional Overhaul: Government Proposes Radical ‘One Nation, One Election’ Amendment
Last Updated on December 15, 2024 by Amit Patra
In a path-breaking legislative development, the government is set to introduce the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, which aims at drastically changing the face of elections in India by synchronizing national and state assembly elections.
The Bill, which the Minister of State for Law Arjun Ram Meghwal is to move, seeks to insert a new Article 82A in the Constitution to provide for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. The far-reaching proposal aims to remove some long-standing irritants in the Indian electoral process, such as the prolonged model code of conduct and large administrative resources used by frequent elections.
The basic feature of the proposed amendment is comprehensive restructuring of electoral timelines. The bill empowers the Election Commission to hold elections across the country and in states simultaneously, with provisions to deal with extraordinary situations. Significantly, if elections to a state assembly cannot be held along with others, the Election Commission can recommend postponement to the President.
One salient feature of the proposal is the provision for mid-term election. In case the Lok Sabha is dissolved before completing the full five-year term, a mid-term election will be conducted to constitute a new house for the unexpired term. Importantly, this new house would not be considered a direct continuation of the previous one – a major departure from the current constitutional provisions.
The government’s reasoning is strong. The statement of objects and reasons underlines the considerable disruption caused by prolonged election cycles—development programs stalled, public life disrupted, and critical administrative resources diverted to election duties. This proposal comes out of a High-Level Committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which submitted a comprehensive report advocating for synchronized elections.
Along with the principal bill, the Union Territories Law (Amendment) Bill, 2024, has been moved to ensure that the same electoral changes are replicated in union territories, including Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir.
The proposed amendment represents a potentially transformative approach to India’s democratic process, promising more efficient governance, reduced electoral expenditure, and minimized administrative disruption. However, it also raises critical questions about federal dynamics and the practical implementation of such a comprehensive electoral restructuring.
The bill will surely provoke intense debate as it inches through parliamentary scrutiny on the future of electoral democracy in India, balancing administrative efficiency with constitutional principles of representation and federal autonomy.
