In a landmark decision, India’s Union Cabinet approved two Bills aimed at implementing simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
The proposal, long championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeks to align India’s electoral cycles, potentially reshaping the nation’s political and governance landscape.
The two Bills—a Constitutional amendment and an ordinary Bill—are expected to be introduced in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.
The Indian Express reports that the introduction will be followed swiftly by the formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to deliberate further.
The move is based on recommendations from a high-level committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind. The committee proposed a phased implementation: first, aligning Lok Sabha and state assembly elections, and later synchronising local body polls. Thursday’s Cabinet meeting, however, focused exclusively on national and state elections, leaving municipal and panchayat polls for future deliberations.
The government has highlighted several benefits of simultaneous polls, including reduced administrative disruptions, policy continuity, and cost efficiency. According to economists consulted, ONOE could boost GDP by up to 1.5%. The BJP argues that the initiative will minimise voter fatigue and streamline governance, echoing India’s electoral system in its early years before 1971.
The Congress, AAP, and other major parties have also opposed the move, calling it an authoritarian imposition.
Regional parties worry that simultaneous elections might overshadow local issues, with resources and attention diverted to larger national campaigns. The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from several Opposition leaders, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu’s MK Stalin, who have labelled it “anti-democratic” and “anti-federal.”
BJP’s Chief Whip Sanjay Jaiswal defended the initiative, stating that it would restore a system envisioned by India’s constitutional framers.
As India stands on the brink of a historic electoral shift, the success of the ONOE initiative will hinge on achieving political consensus and addressing logistical challenges. The government plans an extensive awareness campaign to build consensus for ONOE. The initiative will face rigorous scrutiny in Parliament, where it must navigate diverse political opinions to secure approval.
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