On the final day of the 2024 Parliament winter session, the Lok Sabha adopted a resolution to send the constitutional amendment bills for simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections, known as the ‘One Nation, One Election’ (ONOE) proposal, to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further review.
A total of 269 members voted in favor of the bill, while 198 opposed it. The JPC, formed to scrutinize the bill, will consist of 39 members—27 from the Lok Sabha and 12 from the Rajya Sabha. Among those proposed for the committee are prominent figures such as Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, BJP’s Bhartruhari Mahtab, and former union ministers Anurag Thakur and PP Chaudhary.
The ruling NDA coalition is strongly backing the bill, with 17 out of 39 JPC members hailing from their ranks, including 12 from the BJP. On the other hand, opposition leaders have strongly criticized the bill, calling it “anti-democratic.” Congress MP Jairam Ramesh emphasized the party’s opposition, while Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin condemned the bill as “draconian,” claiming it would undermine federalism and regional voices.
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal had earlier introduced the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which aim to synchronize elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Proponents argue that the ONOE proposal would reduce the financial burden of frequent elections and encourage higher voter turnout.
Supporters of the bill, such as BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, believe that conducting elections more efficiently will save taxpayer money and help focus national attention on pressing issues. The final decision on the bill’s future now lies with the Joint Parliamentary Committee.
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