Lok Sabha Question No. 4228 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-20
Subject: One Nation One Election
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Thiru Dayanidhi Maran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4228

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 20th DECEMBER 2024 One Nation One Election

4228. Thiru Dayanidhi Maran:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) the manner in which the One Nation One election proposal ensure that the federal autonomy of States is maintained, especially if elections are held simultaneously; (b) the steps taken/proposed to be taken to address logistical, technological, and legal challenges to unify electoral rolls required for common electoral roll alignment between the ECI and State commissions; (c) whether the Government studied the potential impact of simultaneous elections on voter behaviour and engagement, especially regarding the risk of national parties' election expenditure overpowering regional parties and the subsequent effect of money power in holding free and fair elections; and (d) whether Election Commission is currently prepared to manage simultaneous elections, in terms of infrastructure, manpower and technology, if so, the details
- thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a): The Government has introduced in Lok Sabha on 17-12-2024, a Bill, namely, the  Constitution  (One  Hundred  and  Twenty-ninth  Amendment)  Bill,  2024  which

seeks  to  insert  a  new  article  82A  and  to  amend  the  articles  83  and  172  of  the Constitution and another Bill, namely the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, so as to enable the holding of simultaneous elections to the House of the People  and  Legislative  Assemblies  together  which  does  not  affect  the  federal autonomy of States. Moreover, the first four General elections to the House of the People and all the State Legislative Assemblies were held simultaneously. Hence, adoption  of  One  Nation,  One  Election  in  India  is  in  line  with  the  principles  of collaborative federalism.

(b): The Government had constituted a High Level Committee (HLC) under the Chairmanship of Shri Ramnath Kovind, former President, to examine the issue of simultaneous  elections  and  make  recommendations  for  holding  simultaneous elections  in  the  country.  The  HLC  for  the  purpose  of,  common  electoral  roll alignment between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and State Commissions,  recommended  that  article  325  may  suitably  be  amended  to  the effect that the ECI shall make the electoral roll and Elector's Photo Identity Card in consultation  with  the  State  Election  Commissions.  The  Report  of  the  HLC  has since been accepted by the Government.

(c): The  HLC  in  Chapter  7  of  its  Report,  while  explaining  the  rationale  of simultaneous  election  has  discussed  the  impact  of  simultaneous  elections  on regional parties. The same is available at website https://onoe.gov.in/HLC-Report .

(d): The  HLC  during  its  consultation  process  also  consulted  with  the  Election Commission of India which in turn had submitted its written response detailing the various requirements for conduct of simultaneous elections. The response of the Election Commission is at pages 3552 -3573 of Volume V of the Annexure of the HLC Report, which is available on its website at https://onoe.gov.in/HLC-Reportannexure .

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