NEW DELHI, Dec 12: The Union Cabinet has approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill, a landmark reform aimed at synchronizing national and state elections. The bill, which received approval on Thursday, is expected to be introduced during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament. This bill follows the recommendations made by the committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which had initially presented the idea in September 2024.
The ‘One Nation One Election’ model proposes holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, a move designed to reduce the costs and disruptions associated with frequent electoral cycles. The committee’s recommendations, part of its report, included constitutional amendments to Articles 327, 83, 172, and the laws governing Union Territories. The committee suggested the introduction of new Articles 82A and 324A to facilitate this change.
The committee’s report outlined a phased approach to implement the new election model. In the first phase, Lok Sabha and state assembly elections will be synchronized, while in the second phase, local elections such as Panchayat and Municipality elections will be held within 100 days of the Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections. Additionally, it recommended creating a single electoral roll and Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) that would apply across all levels of elections—national, state, and local.
The initiative, which is seen as a significant step toward electoral reform, aims to streamline the election process and reduce the financial burden on the government and citizens. The government is now set to move forward with amending the Constitution to pave the way for the ‘One Nation One Election’ system by 2029.
