Simultaneous polls possible in 2029, says panel chief

What happened: panel chairman’s timeline and conditions for 2029 simultaneous polls

P. P. Chaudhary, chairman of the parliamentary panel examining bills on simultaneous elections, said simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in 2029 are possible under the “One Nation, One Election” proposal. Chaudhary linked feasibility to two conditions: constitutional amendments and support from States.

Chaudhary further stated a projected implementation timeline in case Parliament clears the constitutional amendment within a specific period. He said that if Parliament approves the constitutional amendment by 2028, the rollout could begin in 2028 itself. He also emphasised that political parties may hold different views, but the committee should cooperate in the national interest and address shortcomings so elections are conducted successfully.

Background and earlier position: “One Nation, One Election” as a constitutional question

The “One Nation, One Election” proposal aims to align the election schedules of the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and State Legislative Assemblies so that voters would choose both governments around the same time. The core issue in UPSC terms is that election timing is not only an administrative calendar question; it also touches constitutional provisions that govern the tenure of Houses and Assemblies and the legal basis for changing election schedules.

Because election schedules depend on constitutional validity, any shift toward nationwide concurrency typically requires constitutional amendments. The Centre–State dimension is also important because States conduct Assembly elections under their constitutional and statutory arrangements, even when national changes are driven by Parliament.