New Delhi: There are indications that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may introduce the ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill, aimed at holding simultaneous elections for state assemblies and the Lok Sabha, during the current tenure. The central government is hopeful of introducing the bill soon, provided it receives the support of NDA allies. Government sources suggest that efforts to implement ‘One Nation, One Election’ have already begun during this NDA administration. It was one of the key promises in the BJP’s Lok Sabha election manifesto and was also mentioned by the Prime Minister in his Independence Day address from the Red Fort. However, there had been concerns that implementing ‘One Nation, One Election’ could be difficult, especially since the BJP does not have an outright majority in the third Modi government. While alliance partners are supportive of the idea, it is believed they will take a final stand on the matter after conducting a detailed review.
The bill can only be brought forward through consensus and by taking alliance partners into confidence. The Ram Nath Kovind Committee, which studied the feasibility of ‘One Nation, One Election,’ had earlier recommended 18 constitutional amendments to make it a reality.
