One Nation, One Election: Cleared by Cabinet, Bill Expected in Winter Session

The Union Cabinet has given its nod to the proposal for ‘One Nation, One Election’. The bill, aiming to conduct simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, is likely to be introduced in the upcoming winter session of Parliament.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, addressing the press, confirmed that the plan for One Nation, One Election will be implemented in two phases. According to him, the proposal has received overwhelming support, especially from the youth, with over 80% of respondents backing it.

However, opposition parties, including Congress, AAP, and Shiv Sena (UBT), have voiced their objections, claiming it would favor the ruling party. On the other hand, NDA allies such as JD(U) and Chirag Paswan’s party have expressed their support.

Vaishnaw also revealed that a common electoral roll will be created, and an implementation group will be formed to act on the recommendations of the Kovind-led committee.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the move as a landmark electoral reform, asserting that it will strengthen democracy and optimize resource allocation. PM Narendra Modi had also mentioned this initiative during his Independence Day address, emphasizing the need to reduce the disruptions caused by frequent elections.

The panel, in its extensive 18,626-page report, has proposed 18 constitutional amendments to make One Nation, One Election a reality. Initially, Lok Sabha and assembly elections will be synchronized, followed by municipal and panchayat elections, which will require ratification by half of the states.

While the ruling party has been pushing this as a key reform, opposition leaders like Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and AAP’s Sandeep Pathak have dismissed it as impractical for a democracy. They argue that elections should be held as needed to uphold democratic values.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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