‘One Nation, One Election’ Could Be Implemented By 2029 General Polls: Panel Chief

Panaji, July 10: The parliamentary joint committee examining the bills on simultaneous elections is working on a framework that could enable the rollout of the ‘One Nation, One Election’ system by the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, committee chairman PP Chaudhary said on Friday. Addressing reporters during the panel’s two-day meeting in Goa, Chaudhary said that around 99 per cent of civil society stakeholders consulted so far have supported the proposal, which aims to reduce the economic burden caused by frequent elections. The committee began discussions on the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, with a meeting with Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and members of his cabinet. The discussions focused on the challenges involved in holding simultaneous elections and possible solutions. Chaudhary said the panel has held consultations across several states, including Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, engaging with constitutional experts, civil society groups, educationists and other stakeholders. He said the committee’s next priority is to develop a mechanism that can gain acceptance among all political parties. He added that some states could potentially align their election cycles earlier if chief ministers and political parties voluntarily agree to the proposal. Citing economic concerns, Chaudhary referred to a study submitted to the high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which estimated that separate elections across the country could lead to economic losses of nearly Rs 7 lakh crore. He argued that frequent elections affect governance, economic activity and public services, including education, as teachers are often assigned election-related duties such as voter list preparation, training and polling responsibilities. Calling simultaneous elections a major electoral reform, Chaudhary said the initiative aligns with the vision of making India a developed nation by 2047, while emphasising that the final framework would be developed through wider consultation and consensus.