The “One Nation, One Election” Bill was introduced by the Union Law Minister in the Lok Sabha on December 17, 2024. The bill aims to synchronize elections for the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. It consists two bills:
- The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024
- The Union Territories Amendment Bill, 2024
Key Provisions of the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024
The Bill seeks to amend three articles of the Constitution and introduces a new Article 82A to enable simultaneous elections.
Highlights of Article 82A:
- Simultaneous Elections Timeline (82A(1)):
- The President will bring the provisions into effect on the first sitting date of the new Lok Sabha.
- Unified Tenure for Assemblies and Lok Sabha (82A(2)):
- State Assembly terms will end with the term of the Lok Sabha elected after the appointed date, even if their individual tenures are shorter.
- Election Commission Role (82A(3) & (5)):
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) must conduct simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and State Assemblies but can exempt specific states under extraordinary circumstances.
- Definition (82A(4)):
- Simultaneous elections are defined as those conducted together for Lok Sabha and all State Assemblies.
Amendments to Article 83 and Article 172:
- Lok Sabha Tenure Adjustments (Article 83):
- It prescribes for the duration of Houses of Parliament. While Rajya Sabha is not dissolved — one-third of its members retire every second year — the Lok Sabha’s term is a fixed five years unless it is dissolved sooner.
- The new changes state that if the Lok Sabha is dissolved before the end of its full term, the next Lok Sabha will only be for the unexpired term — “the period between its date of dissolution and five years from the date of the first meeting”.
- Another proposed sub-clause clarifies that the new House (formed after the mid-term election) will not be a continuation of the old one. This means that Bills pending in the House will expire — as it happens even when the House has functioned for a full term.
- State Assembly Tenure Adjustments (Article 172):
- Similar provisions are applied to state legislatures, ensuring elections for unexpired terms if dissolved early.
Key Provisions of the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024
This Bill amends legislation governing Union Territories (UTs), such as:
- The Government of Union Territories Act, 1963
- The Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991
- The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019
It synchronizes UT legislative elections with the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, applying the same tenure and election principles as for states.
Key Challenges
- Term Management:
- Early dissolution of Lok Sabha or an Assembly will result in elections for the remaining term only, which is a departure from the norm of a fixed five-year tenure.
- Pending Bills:
- Bills introduced in a dissolved House (Lok Sabha or Assembly) will lapse, ensuring no legislative continuity across terms.
- Election Commission’s Mandate:
- The ECI’s expanded responsibility to organize and manage synchronized elections adds operational and logistical complexity.
Constitutional Amendment Requirements
To pass, the Bill must meet the conditions outlined in Article 368 of the Constitution:
- Approval by a Special Majority:
- A majority of the total membership in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha must approve the amendment.
- Two-thirds of members present and voting in each House must vote in favor.
This is a high bar and will require substantial political consensus.
Background
- The proposed amendments follow the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on One Nation, One Election, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind.
- This committee submitted its report to President Droupadi Murmu in March 2024, supporting simultaneous elections to improve governance, reduce costs, and ensure election stability.
