‘One Nation, One Election’ bills: Parliamentary panel to meet on February 25

The last meeting of the committee was held on January 31, where discussions were held on “the procedure and modalities for examination of the Amendment Bills”. The committee had also discussed plans to hold an extensive public consultation and awareness campaign, including initiatives like essay-writing and debate competitions for school and college students.

Opposition members, including leaders from the Congress and the Trinamool Congress, had opposed the idea, pointing out that the Bills are yet to be passed by Parliament.

An indicative list of 23 different categories of stakeholders who will be called to depose before the committee included political parties, retired judges, the Election Commission (current and former), industry bodies, trade unions, farmers’ unions, management institutes, think tanks, political analysts and election strategists and public sector undertakings.

To seek public views, the committee is expected to set up a website for submissions.

The two Bills, called the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, were introduced in the Lok Sabha by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on December 17, 2024, and referred to the joint committee.

The two Bills enable simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State/Union Territory Assemblies by syncing their terms.