One Nation, One Election: Preparations Gathering Pace For 2029 Rollout In Uttar Pradesh
One Nation, One Election: Preparations Gathering Pace For 2029 Rollout In Uttar Pradesh Published By, Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 15:20 IST JPC Chairman P.P
One Nation, One Election: Preparations Gathering Pace For 2029 Rollout In Uttar Pradesh Published By, Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 15:20 IST JPC Chairman P.P. Chaudhary said simultaneous polls could reduce expenditure, improve governance efficiency and allow administrative resources to be deployed more effectively. Chaudhary said the Election Commission has the capacity to conduct simultaneous elections if given adequate preparation time. Preparations are gathering pace to implement the proposed “One Nation, One Election" framework, with the aim of holding Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections simultaneously in 2029, Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) Chairman and BJP MP P.P. Chaudhary said. Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, Chaudhary said the proposal would require constitutional and legal amendments and described it as an electoral reform measure rather than a political initiative. “Our objective is that in 2029, Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assembly elections across the country should be held simultaneously. Necessary constitutional and legal amendments will be made for this. This is not the agenda of any political party but a comprehensive electoral reform linked to national interest," he said. The remarks come as the JPC examines bills related to the One Nation, One Election proposal after they were referred to the panel by Parliament for wider consultations. Simultaneous Elections Were Held Until 1967 Chaudhary noted that India conducted simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections during the first four general election cycles in 1952, 1957, 1962 and 1967. According to him, the electoral cycle was disrupted over time due to factors such as the premature dissolution of state assemblies, the imposition of President’s Rule in some states, the creation of new states and the extension of the Lok Sabha’s tenure during the Emergency.
He rejected arguments that simultaneous elections would be incompatible with India’s federal structure or democratic framework. “If simultaneous elections between 1952 and 1967 did not violate democracy or the federal structure, then advancing such an argument today is merely part of a political debate," Chaudhary said. ‘Frequent Elections Affect Governance And Development’ The BJP MP argued that recurring elections impose administrative and economic costs by repeatedly triggering the Model Code of Conduct and diverting government machinery toward election-related work. He said simultaneous polls could reduce expenditure, improve governance efficiency and allow administrative resources to be deployed more effectively. “If Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are held simultaneously, time, resources and public money will be saved, and governance can function more effectively," he said. Chaudhary also dismissed concerns that voters could be confused if parliamentary and assembly elections are held together, saying Indian voters are politically aware and capable of making independent choices. Multiple Panels Have Backed Proposal Highlighting the history of the proposal, Chaudhary said several institutions and expert bodies have supported simultaneous elections over the years. According to him, the Election Commission recommended the idea in 1983, while the Law Commission supported it in 1999. He also cited recommendations made by the Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution in 2002, a Parliamentary Standing Committee report in 2015, and NITI Aayog’s 2018 report. Chaudhary further referred to the high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which was constituted by the Centre in 2020 to examine the issue. The committee consulted political parties, constitutional experts, the Election Commission and other stakeholders before submitting its report to the government.
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