Simultaneous elections possible in 2029 with constitutional changes, panel chief says

The chairman of Parliament's joint committee reviewing the government's 'One Nation, One Election' initiative said Monday that holding simultaneous elections across India in 2029 remains achievable if key political and constitutional hurdles are cleared. PP Chaudhary, a BJP MP from Rajasthan leading the 31-member panel, indicated that constitutional amendments could be finalized by 2028, paving the way for synchronized polling thereafter.

The joint committee is examining the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seek to align Lok Sabha elections with state assembly polls. The panel was constituted following opposition demands for wider parliamentary scrutiny of the contentious proposals, which represent a significant departure from India's current electoral framework.

For the initiative to proceed, Chaudhary emphasized that state governments must formally express their consent to participate in synchronized elections. The practical implementation would require coordination among multiple states and union territories, each with different electoral cycles and administrative systems. Political analysts have noted that securing unanimous or near-unanimous state support remains a major challenge for the Modi government's flagship proposal.

The joint committee's recommendations will be crucial in determining the legislative path forward. If constitutional amendments are approved in Parliament by 2028 as envisaged, the groundwork for implementing 'One Nation, One Election' in 2029 could theoretically begin, though substantial logistical and political questions remain unresolved.