Govt may introduce 'One Nation, One Election' bill in Winter Session, eyes 2029 rollout: Report

The Cabinet has already approved the report from the Ram Nath Kovind Committee on the proposal

The government is preparing to launch its 'One Country, One Election' initiative and may introduce a bill in Parliament during this session, according to sources cited by NDTV. The Cabinet has already approved the report from the Ram Nath Kovind Committee on the proposal.

The government now aims to build consensus on the bill and may refer it to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for in-depth discussions, sources told NDTV.

The JPC will engage in discussions with representatives from all political parties, and other stakeholders will also be included in the process, the report added citing sources. Speakers from all state assemblies, as well as intellectuals from across the country, may be consulted, and the views of the general public will also be considered, reports NDTV.

Initially, the government plans to involve the public, and the methods for doing so will be discussed at a later stage, sources said.

Implementing "One Nation, One Election" would require amending the Constitution with at least six bills, and the government would need a two-thirds majority in Parliament to pass them.

Although the NDA holds a simple majority in both houses of Parliament, securing a two-thirds majority in either house may be challenging.

In the 245-seat Rajya Sabha, the NDA has 112 seats, while the Opposition holds 85. To achieve a two-thirds majority, the government would need at least 164 votes.

NDA holds 292 out of 545 seats in Lok Sabha, with the two-thirds majority threshold set at 364. However, this situation could change, as the majority would depend on the members present and voting.

The government has been advocating for simultaneous elections, arguing that the current system wastes time, money, and resources. Additionally, the Model Code of Conduct, which is enforced before elections, hampers development work, according to the government.

The Opposition has criticized the idea as impractical, citing the logistical challenges the Election Commission faces, especially when state elections are conducted over multiple phases.

The Opposition has argued that the idea of simultaneous elections is undemocratic and unconstitutional.

The Kovind report has recommended that the government work to build bipartisan support and a nationwide consensus. It also suggested that the implementation of "One Nation One Election" should only take place after 2029.