The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, proposing simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and all State Legislative Assemblies, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 17 December 2024. The Bill, along with the accompanying Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee on 20 December 2024, the last day of the Winter Session of Parliament. The referral followed the Government's acceptance of opposition demands for detailed committee scrutiny of the proposed constitutional amendment.
Background
The concept of simultaneous elections — commonly referred to as "One Nation One Election" — was recommended by a High-Level Committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which submitted its report in March 2024. The Committee recommended a phased synchronisation of elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, requiring constitutional amendments to adjust the terms of state legislatures to align with the Lok Sabha cycle.
The Winter Session of Parliament (25 November to 20 December 2024) was marked by low overall productivity, estimated at approximately 54 per cent of scheduled time, with significant disruptions in both Houses primarily over the Adani-related controversy. Despite this, the introduction and referral of the One Nation One Election Bill was among the most consequential legislative actions of the session. The only other legislation passed by both Houses during the session was the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak (Aviation Bill), which replaced the Aircraft Act, 1934.
Key Provisions
The constitutional amendment proposal contains the following principal elements:
Synchronised election cycles: The Bill proposes to align the election cycles of the Lok Sabha and all State Legislative Assemblies so that elections to both levels of government are held simultaneously. The mechanism involves fixing a common date for the commencement of terms and adjusting the tenure of assemblies as necessary to achieve synchronisation.
Transitional mechanism: For the initial synchronisation, certain State Assemblies may have their terms curtailed or extended to align with the Lok Sabha cycle. The Bill proposes a "single appointed date" from which the simultaneous cycle would commence.
Mid-term dissolution provisions: In the event of a mid-term dissolution of either the Lok Sabha or a State Assembly, fresh elections for the dissolved body would be held for only the remainder of the original term, ensuring the synchronised cycle is not disrupted permanently by individual dissolutions.
Union Territories alignment: The companion Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill seeks to align the electoral cycles of legislatures in Union Territories with the proposed simultaneous election framework.
Ratification requirement: As a constitutional amendment affecting the federal structure, the Bill would require ratification by at least half the State Legislatures under the proviso to Article 368(2), in addition to the two-thirds majority in each House of Parliament.
Implications for Practitioners
Constitutional law practitioners should closely monitor the JPC proceedings, as the committee's deliberations will shape the final form of the amendment. The requirement of state ratification introduces a significant political threshold that will determine the amendment's viability regardless of its passage through Parliament.
Election law specialists should note the implications for anti-defection law, governor's powers regarding dissolution, and the Model Code of Conduct, all of which will require consequential amendments if simultaneous elections are implemented. The transitional provisions regarding curtailment or extension of assembly terms raise potential federalism challenges that may be tested in court.
For practitioners advising political parties and candidates, the operational implications of simultaneous elections — including campaign financing, candidate selection timelines, and regulatory compliance — will require substantially different strategic planning compared to the current staggered election system.