The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the proposed ‘One Nation, One Election’ legislation has indicated that India could move towards synchronised Lok Sabha and Assembly elections by 2029. The committee is currently working on a framework aimed at making the electoral reform practically implementable while securing wider political consensus.
Panel Exploring Roadmap for Simultaneous Elections
Committee Chairman and BJP MP PP Chaudhary said the panel is evaluating multiple models to create a mechanism that balances constitutional requirements with the interests of political parties and states.
Speaking after the committee’s meeting in Goa, Chaudhary said discussions have focused on finding a practical and broadly acceptable roadmap rather than imposing a fixed formula.
He also suggested that some states could voluntarily align their Assembly election schedules before 2029 if their governments and political parties agree.
Committee Consults States and Experts
As part of its nationwide consultations, the committee has already interacted with constitutional experts, civil society organisations, academicians and representatives from several states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi.
During its Goa visit, the panel also held discussions with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and members of the state cabinet to understand the administrative and constitutional challenges associated with conducting simultaneous elections.
According to Chaudhary, the committee’s objective is to develop a model capable of addressing these concerns while ensuring wider acceptance.
Economic Benefits Highlighted
The committee also emphasised the financial impact of holding frequent elections. Referring to an economic study submitted to the high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, Chaudhary said repeated elections impose an estimated economic burden of nearly ₹7 lakh crore, while synchronised polls could generate significant economic benefits.
He noted that elections in one state often affect economic activity in others due to the interconnected nature of India’s economy. Using Goa as an example, he said election periods can influence tourism and business activity beyond state borders.
Frequent Polls Also Affect Governance
Apart from economic costs, Chaudhary argued that repeated elections interrupt governance and place additional pressure on the education system, as government school teachers are regularly assigned election-related duties such as voter list preparation, training and polling work.
He said these disruptions particularly affect students studying in government schools and added that reducing the frequency of elections could improve administrative efficiency.
Calling the proposal one of India’s most significant electoral reforms, Chaudhary said the committee’s priority remains building broad political consensus before finalising its recommendations, with the possibility of implementing the reform ahead of the 2029 general elections if the required mechanism is agreed upon.
Q1. What is One Nation, One Election?
It is a proposal to conduct Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections at the same time across India.
Q2. When could it be implemented?
The Parliamentary panel has indicated that the reform could become operational by the 2029 general elections if a consensus is reached.
Q3. How much support has the proposal received?
According to JPC Chairman PP Chaudhary, around 99% of the civil society stakeholders consulted by the committee have backed the proposal.
Q4. Why is the government pushing this reform?
The government says simultaneous elections could reduce election expenditure, minimise governance disruptions and improve administrative efficiency.
