One Nation, One Election bill to be tabled in Lok Sabha on Monday

NEW DELHI: Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will table the One Nation, One Election bill in the Lok Sabha on December 16. The Union Cabinet, earlier this week, cleared the constitutional amendment bill.

Meghwal will table The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill. These draft legislations aim to enable simultaneous elections across the country. While one bill focuses on amending the Constitution to allow for synchronised polls, the other proposes changes to align laws in Union Territories with the constitutional amendment.

A high-level committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind was tasked with evaluating its feasibility. Though the committee suggested including municipal and panchayat elections in a phased manner, the Cabinet has opted not to address local body elections in the current proposal.

The initiative has sparked political debate, with sharp divides between the ruling BJP-led NDA and opposition parties. The BJP and its allies, including JD(U) and LJP, have voiced strong support, highlighting the proposal’s potential to reduce costs, ensure policy continuity, and boost governance efficiency. BJP MP Anil Baluni praised the move, saying, “The proposed bill will strengthen the country's democracy and pave the way for development.” JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar, a long-time proponent of the idea, echoed similar sentiments, calling it a necessary reform to streamline governance and avoid disruptions caused by frequent elections.

Opposition parties under the INDIA bloc, including Congress, AAP, and Trinamool Congress, have raised concerns about the impact of simultaneous polls on regional autonomy and electoral fairness. They argue that the move could centralise power and undermine federal principles.

The Kovind-led panel reviewed electoral systems in countries such as Germany, Indonesia, and Japan, noting that simultaneous elections could bring administrative stability, encourage voter participation, and potentially boost GDP by up to 1.5%. Former President Kovind described the initiative as “a game-changer” for India’s democracy.