The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal for holding simultaneous elections in India, following recommendations from a high-level committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the simultaneous elections would be conducted in two phases. The first phase will involve holding Lok Sabha and Assembly elections together, while the second phase will cover local body elections within 100 days of the general elections.
The Kovind committee, which submitted its report in March before the announcement of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, recommended a “one-time transitory measure.” This would involve identifying an “appointed date” immediately after a Lok Sabha election, with all state assemblies elected after this date having their terms expire with Parliament. This measure aims to synchronize the electoral cycles of central and state governments.
The committee also suggested that municipal and panchayat elections be held within 100 days of the Lok Sabha and state elections to maintain electoral synchronicity.
To address potential disruptions from premature dissolutions of Parliament or state assemblies due to no-confidence motions or other events, the committee proposed that fresh elections be held only for the “unexpired term” until the next cycle of simultaneous polls.
Despite a reduced tally in the Lok Sabha, the BJP-led NDA government remains committed to implementing the simultaneous elections plan, which will require Constitutional amendments. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reiterated that the “one nation, one election” initiative will be implemented within the current term of the NDA government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called for support for the simultaneous poll legislation during his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort.
