New Delhi, December 12, 2024.
The Cabinet Thursday gave its approval to two Bills, one of which is a nod to the “one nation, one election” plan of the BJP-led Central government.
The “one nation, one election” Bill is likely to be tabled during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament following which it may be forwarded to a joint parliamentary committee.
Since coming to power in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been advocating for the plan to hold elections to Lok Sabha, all state Legislative Assemblies, and urban and rural local bodies (municipalities and panchayats) at the same time.
According to the roadmap presented by the committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, simultaneous elections will require 18 amendments to existing laws, including 15 amendments to the Constitution. While the BJP, with its reduced numbers in Parliament, prepares to build a broad political agreement on the amendments, the Election Commission of India (ECI), which will hold the elections, has its task cut out as well.
