The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill is set to convene today, with eminent economist and former Fifteenth Finance Commission Chairman N K Singh scheduled to appear before the panel. He will be accompanied by Dr Prachi Mishra, Professor of Economics and Director at the Isaac Centre for Public Policy, Ashoka University.
The meeting follows the JPC’s previous session on July 11, during which the committee held deliberations with leading legal minds including former Chief Justices of India, Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud. Committee Chairman P P Chaudhary had described the initiative as a “golden opportunity for nation-building,” emphasizing that members were focused on crafting strong, apolitical legislation.
“Former CJIs Justice Khehar and Justice Chandrachud shared their insights with us. All committee members are working beyond party lines to prepare an effective ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill,” Chaudhary said after the previous session.
The committee has also consulted other prominent experts, including former MP and ex-Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice, E M S Natchiappan. Key attendees of the earlier meeting included Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Manish Tewari, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Saket Gokhale, Shambhavi Choudhary, and Bhartruhari Mahtab.
Chaudhary noted that the panel was actively engaging with constitutional experts to ensure any proposed legislative amendments withstand judicial scrutiny and align with the broader vision of simultaneous elections as endorsed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The JPC is currently reviewing the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which aim to synchronize Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections. The committee has also undertaken field visits to five states and one union territory, gathering inputs from political leaders, civil society, and government officials—many of whom expressed support for the proposal.
The push for simultaneous elections gained momentum after the Union Cabinet accepted the High-Level Committee’s recommendations in September 2024. Chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, the committee suggested a two-step rollout—first aligning Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections, followed by synchronizing municipal and panchayat polls within 100 days of national and state elections.
A single electoral roll and unified EPIC (Electoral Photo Identity Card) system for all three levels of government were also among the key recommendations, aiming to enhance transparency, efficiency, and voter confidence across the electoral process.