New Delhi, Feb 28: The Law Commission is poised to propose the incorporation of a new section into the Constitution focusing on ‘one nation, one election.’ The suggested amendment aims to facilitate the mammoth task of simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies nationwide by mid-2029, according to sources on Wednesday.
Under the leadership of Justice (retd) Ritu Raj Awasthi, the Commission is expected to recommend the constitutional amendment, adding a “new chapter or part” dedicated to simultaneous elections. The proposal includes synchronizing the terms of legislative assemblies in “three phases” over the next five years. This initiative is aimed at enabling the first simultaneous polls to take place in May-June 2029, coinciding with the elections for the 19th Lok Sabha.
The envisioned Constitution chapter would encompass aspects related to “simultaneous election,” “sustainability of simultaneous elections,” and a “common electoral roll” for Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies, panchayats, and municipalities. This comprehensive approach is designed to conduct the three-tier simultaneous polls collectively “in one go,” overriding other constitutional provisions dealing with assembly terms.
The five-year period for synchronizing assembly terms will be implemented in three phases. The Commission suggests that the initial phase may involve curtailment of the terms of state assemblies by a few months (three or six months). In situations where a government falls due to a lack of confidence or if there is a hung House, the Commission proposes the formation of a “unity government” with representatives from various political parties. If the unity government approach proves unsuccessful, the law panel recommends holding fresh elections for the remaining term of the House.
In addition to the Law Commission, a high-level committee under former President Ram Nath Kovind is also working on a report to explore how simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies, municipalities, and panchayats can be conducted by adjusting the Constitution and existing legal frameworks.
With the upcoming Lok Sabha polls expected in April-May this year, elections for at least five assemblies are also likely to take place. State polls for Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand are anticipated later this year, with Bihar and Delhi scheduled for assembly polls next year. Further ahead, states like Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Kerala are scheduled for 2026, and Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Manipur in 2027. As many as nine states may have assembly polls scheduled for 2028 — Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Karnataka, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana.