A joint parliamentary committee (JPC) has been formed to study the constitutional amendment bills related to the “One Nation One Election” proposal, which were tabled in Parliament on Tuesday. The committee will be tasked with examining the proposed changes, consulting stakeholders, and reviewing the bills within 90 days. However, it may seek an extension if needed. The panel will submit its report to the Lok Sabha during the first day of the final week of the next session of Parliament.
The newly constituted committee includes 21 Lok Sabha MPs, such as Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule, Union Minister Anurag Thakur from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and 10 members from the Rajya Sabha. The committee will be chaired by BJP’s PP Chaudhary.
This development came a day after Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the constitutional amendment bills in the Lok Sabha for holding simultaneous elections for both the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.
Composition of the Joint Parliamentary Committee:
1. PP Chaudhary 2. CM Ramesh 3. Bansuri Swaraj 4. Parshottambhai Rupala 5. Anurag Thakur 6. Vishnu Dayal Ram 7. Brartruhari Mahtab 8. Sambit Patra 9. Anil Baluni 10. Vishnu Datt Sharma 11. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra 12. Manish Tewari 13. Sukhdeo Bhagat 14. Dharmendra Yadav 15. Kalyan Banerjee 16. TM Selvaganapathi 17. GM Harish Balayogi 18. Supriya Sule 19. Shrikant Shinde 20. Chandan Chauhan 21. Balashowry Vallabhaneni Along with 10 Rajya Sabha MPs.
Opposition Criticism and BJP’s Response:
The opposition has strongly criticized the move, arguing that simultaneous elections would centralize power and undermine the autonomy of states. The Congress party specifically accused the BJP of using the bill to pave the way for a presidential system of governance. In response, the BJP defended the proposal, claiming it would reduce election-related costs, alleviate voter fatigue, and ensure governance continuity.
Historical Context and Challenges:
Simultaneous elections were practiced in India from 1951-52 until 1967. However, following the dissolution of several legislative Assemblies in 1968 and 1969, as well as the Lok Sabha in 1970, elections began to be held separately, a practice that has continued to this day.
The introduction of the One Nation One Election bill requires only a simple majority. However, its passage will require a two-thirds majority in the House, which could pose challenges for the BJP-led government. Currently, the BJP-led NDA holds 293 seats in the Lok Sabha, while the Congress-led INDIA coalition has 234 seats. Even with full attendance, the NDA would not have enough numbers to amend the Constitution.
Nonetheless, the BJP has gained support from fence-sitting parties like the YSR Congress, BJD, and AIADMK, which have expressed their approval of simultaneous elections. This support gives a boost to the BJP’s push for the bill.
