The Union Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval to the much-discussed ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill, a key step towards holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. Sources have confirmed that the bill is likely to be presented in the ongoing Winter session of Parliament. Once tabled, it will be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further examination.
This legislation is a crucial part of the government’s agenda, aimed at streamlining the electoral process in India. The proposal for simultaneous elections was first put forward in September, following the presentation of a report by a high-level committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed strong support for the initiative, emphasizing its potential to make India’s democracy more vibrant and participative. “The Cabinet has accepted the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections. I complement former President Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji for leading this effort and consulting a wide range of stakeholders,” Modi posted on X.
The committee’s recommendation includes holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly elections as the first phase. The second phase proposes synchronizing local body elections within 100 days of the national and state elections.
Kovind Stresses Need for National Consensus
On Wednesday, former President Ram Nath Kovind underlined the importance of building a broad national consensus for the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative. He highlighted that the proposal is not driven by political interests but is for the nation’s benefit, citing economic forecasts that suggest the country’s GDP could rise by 1-1.5% if the plan is implemented.
Support from Political Leaders
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also voiced his support for simultaneous elections. Speaking on the issue, Chouhan pointed out the significant wastage of time and public funds caused by frequent elections. He shared his personal experience of spending three months campaigning during elections, stressing that such disruptions hinder development work and lead to unnecessary administrative challenges.
With both political leaders and experts backing the proposal, the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative is expected to spark further discussions and debates in Parliament in the coming weeks.
