Union Cabinet Approves ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill, to be Introduced in Parliament
New Delhi, 12th December 2024: On Thursday, the Union Cabinet approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill, which seeks to implement simultaneous elections nationwide. Sources indicated that the bill is expected to be introduced in Parliament next week.
In September, the Cabinet had already endorsed the initiative, which proposes conducting elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, urban bodies, and panchayats within 100 days. A high-level committee, led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, presented its findings in March this year.
The committee’s report highlighted the negative impact of prolonged elections on governance, leading to administrative instability and affecting decision-making. It suggested that holding concurrent elections would improve policy consistency, reduce voter fatigue, and boost voter turnout.
The committee’s 18,626-page report is the result of extensive consultations with various stakeholders and experts, along with 191 days of research since its formation in September 2023. Following the Cabinet’s approval in September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi voiced his support for the initiative, praising Kovind’s leadership and stakeholder consultations.
The approval comes just a day after Kovind emphasized that the Centre must build a consensus to implement ONOE. He also stated that the initiative would benefit the country, not any political party, and predicted a potential GDP increase of 1 to 1.5 % post-implementation.
