The Election Commission of India (ECI) has told the Parliamentary Panel committee on ‘One Nation One Election’ that they need around 6 months’ time to conduct simultaneous polls in the country if the bill is passed in 2028. According to the PTI, Parliamentary Panel chairman PP Chaudhary informed that the Election Commission, in its preliminary submission to the Joint Committee of Parliament on the proposed ‘One Nation One Election’, has said it would be ready to conduct simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections if given six months’ notice. The bill is likely to be tabled in the upcoming monsoon session that is set to commence from July 21.
PP Chaudhary made these remarks while speaking to reporters when he also mentioned that the committee has concluded its three-day consultations with academia. While mentioning this, Chaudhary also said that the committee would also hear the poll body before finalising its recommendations on the proposed constitutional amendments.
Speaking about the Election Commission’s preliminary submission on the simultaneous elections, PP Chaudhary said, “The poll body had indicated that simultaneous elections across the country would be feasible if it is given six months’ advance notice.”
“The Election Commission believes that if Parliament passes the law in 2028, it can conduct ‘One Nation One Election‘ from 2029,” he mentioned.
Joint Committee To Examine Poll Body’s Plans on One Nation, One Election
Elaborating on conducting simultaneous elections, Chaudhary said that they will listen to the poll body’s plans on how they are planning to conduct the simultaneous polls, will clear all the doubts, and only after viewing the full views will the committee decide whether it would be feasible to conduct the elections or not.
“We will hear the Election Commission on how it plans to conduct ‘One Nation One Election’. We will put our questions to it, and only after hearing its views will the committee recommend whether it is feasible or not,” he said.
Simultaneous Elections Conducted in Country Before
Mentioning that One Nation One Election is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, PP Chaudhary said that simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections had been conducted in the country between 1954 and 1960 using ballot papers.
“We cannot underestimate our voters. They are politically aware and capable of deciding whom to vote for. That is why India’s democracy enjoys a distinct place in the world,” Chaudhary said.
Simultaneous Election Doesn’t Violate Constitution Structure
As discussions deliberate upon One Nation, One Election, constitutional experts who appeared before the panel had opined that the proposal did not violate the basic structure of the Constitution, federalism, or democracy, he said.
“It is only a timetable for holding Lok Sabha and assembly elections together. It does not curtail the powers or rights of the states,” he quoted the experts.
Is the public on board for One Nation One Election?
Claiming broad public support for the proposal, Chaudhary said, “Almost 99 per cent of civil society and ordinary people are in favour of ‘One Nation One Election’. This is the will of the people.”
He said stakeholders had told the committee that frequent elections disrupted governance as officials were repeatedly diverted for poll duty across states.
Wide Range of Discussions on One Nation One Election
Earlier, the committee examining the Constitution (Amendment) Bills on the proposed One Nation One Election initiative held discussions with vice-chancellors, directors, and heads of departments from leading universities and institutions in Uttar Pradesh, including Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Banaras Hindu University, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Kanpur, Indian Institute of Management Lucknow, and the University of Allahabad.
According to an official statement, the participants made detailed presentations covering various provisions of the proposed constitutional amendment bills.
The discussions focused on issues such as Centre-State relations, the implications of mid-term elections, the concept of an unexpired term, the long-term sustainability of simultaneous elections, the proposed powers of the Election Commission of India, and other aspects of electoral reforms.
Parliament Committee Held Discussions With Padma Awardees, Civil Society
The committee also interacted with Padma awardees, representatives of civil society organisations, and media personalities as part of the final round of consultations in Lucknow. During the interaction, members invited suggestions on the proposed reforms and explained the rationale and key features of the constitutional amendment bills.
The committee said the consultations were aimed at encouraging wider public participation and informed discussion on the proposed electoral reforms.
It added that the inputs and recommendations received from various stakeholders would assist its ongoing examination of the proposed legislation on simultaneous elections.
With inputs from PTI