Indian Government Tables 'One Nation, One Election' Bill in Parliament

The proposed constitutional amendment aims to synchronize state and national elections by 2034, but faces strong opposition over concerns about federalism and democratic accountability.

The Union government introduced the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, proposing simultaneous state and national elections starting in 2034.
The bills will be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for review, with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expected to constitute the committee soon.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP argue that the initiative will reduce election costs, improve governance, and strengthen cooperative federalism, while critics claim it undermines the federal structure and democratic principles.
The opposition, including Congress and other parties, has strongly opposed the bills, arguing they violate the Constitution's basic structure and could marginalize regional parties.
The proposal requires significant parliamentary support to amend the Constitution, with the ruling BJP-led NDA needing to secure a two-thirds majority in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to pass the legislation.