NEW DELHI, July 29 — The Lok Sabha on Wednesday granted a further extension to the 41-member Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the "One Nation, One Election" proposal, giving the panel more time to build consensus on one of the most far-reaching constitutional changes under discussion in Parliament.
The JPC has been holding consultations with political parties, constitutional experts and state governments on the proposal to synchronise Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. The idea, if implemented, would require amendments to the Constitution and coordination across the Election Commission, state legislatures and Parliament, and has drawn both support and sharp opposition along political lines since it was first floated.
Government members of the committee have argued that simultaneous elections would cut costs and reduce the disruption caused by the near-continuous election cycle in India, while opposition members have raised concerns about federalism and the practical mechanics of dissolving or extending state assembly terms to align cycles.
For aspirants, "One Nation, One Election" is an important polity topic — questions have tested the committee's composition, the constitutional articles that would need amendment, and the arguments for and against simultaneous polls.