Union Cabinet clears 'One Nation One Election' Bill amid ongoing Winter Session of Parliament

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the 'One Nation One Election' bill, signalling a step towards synchronising Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections, media reports said.

The bill is expected to be introduced during the ongoing winter session of Parliament, aligning with a key promise made by the BJP in its Lok Sabha election manifesto, reported India Today.

This decision follows the government's acceptance of recommendations from a high-level committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind.

The panel proposed a phased implementation of simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies.

The initiative has faced opposition from several INDIA bloc parties, including the Congress and AAP, which argue it could disproportionately benefit the ruling party.

Meanwhile, prominent NDA allies, such as JD(U) and Chirag Paswan's party, have expressed their support for the proposal.

To ensure widespread consensus, the government plans to refer the bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) and seek inputs from state assembly speakers, intellectuals, experts, civil society members, and the general public.

According to the committee’s 18,626-page report, the plan involves two stages: aligning Lok Sabha and state assembly polls initially, followed by local body elections within 100 days of the national and state polls.

Achieving this would necessitate 18 constitutional amendments and approval from at least half the states.