JPC chief P.P. Chaudhary says the ONOE report would be finalised only after wider consultation with the states, making the bill unlikely in the Monsoon Session.
It is highly unlikely that the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill will be introduced during the upcoming Monsoon Session. This is because the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), constituted to examine the Bill, has so far visited only 10 states.
Committee Chairman P.P. Chaudhary said in an exclusive conversation that the committee’s primary priority is to ascertain the views of citizens across all states, as democratic decisions are best made after considering everyone’s perspective. He said that in the states visited so far—whether interacting with social organisations, NGOs, academicians, legal experts, retired judges, lawyers, the youth, or the elderly—there is palpable enthusiasm for the ‘One Nation, One Election’ concept.
Everyone believes that implementing ‘One Nation, One Election’ is essential for the national interest. Regarding when the report will be tabled in Parliament, Chaudhary said nothing can be stated definitively yet, though the aim is to submit it as soon as possible after hearing the views of the majority of states.
Chaudhary’s remarks make it clear that the Bill is unlikely to be introduced during the Monsoon Session. However, given the government’s efforts to secure a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament, it is certain that the government could introduce and pass the ‘One Nation, One Election’ electoral reform Bill in any session it chooses. That said, the immediate priority would be passing the Delimitation Amendment Bill as it is crucial for electoral reform.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has stated that whenever the ‘One Nation, One Election’ law is enacted, it is capable of conducting simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections across the country within six months. This indicates that the Election Commission is making its own preparations and stands ready to implement the measure whenever the government gives the go-ahead.
Chaudhary added that the committee will also consult the Election Commission before finalising its recommendations regarding the proposed constitutional amendments. He said that the committee would like to know from the Election Commission how it intends to conduct the elections, as the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative would mark a historic turning point for the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has clearly stated that public sentiment must be considered before making any such decision, as, constitutionally speaking, this decision concerns the citizens of India rather than political parties; in a democracy, decisions are made for the people.
P.P. Chaudhary said that holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies would strengthen governance, reduce expenditure, and benefit the national economy. He said that the 41-member committee—representing all major political parties—is visiting various states to gather views from governments, political parties, constitutional experts, civil society, and other stakeholders; Uttar Pradesh was the tenth state visited recently.
