New Delhi – The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on ‘One Nation, One Election’ will convene a crucial meeting on April 22, running from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The day-long discussions will feature prominent legal experts and political voices contributing to the ongoing deliberations on synchronising elections across the country.
The first session will see an interaction with Justice Hemant Gupta, former Supreme Court judge, followed by Justice S.N. Jha, former Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. Dr Justice B.S. Chauhan, former Supreme Court judge and ex-Chairman of the 21st Law Commission of India, will participate in the next session. The final session of the day will include Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP.
Earlier, JPC Chairman and BJP MP PP Chaudhary shared details about the committee’s efforts to involve all stakeholders in the process. He announced that a new website will soon be launched to gather public suggestions. “Advertisements will be published in all languages to reach a wider audience, and the website will include a QR code feature to make it easier for people to share their views,” he said. The technical backend is being carefully developed to avoid crashes and ensure accessibility.
As part of a broader consultation process, the committee is also planning state-level visits. Maharashtra will be the first stop, followed by Uttarakhand in May. In June, the committee plans to visit Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh, Punjab, and Haryana. These visits are aimed at gathering regional perspectives and feedback on the proposed electoral reform.
Chaudhary emphasised the need for synchronised elections, stating, “Currently, elections are held every 5-6 months somewhere in the country. This constant election mode affects governance. If we implement a common election cycle, Viksit Bharat (Developed India) can be achieved faster, possibly before 2047.” He added that elections for local bodies, including panchayats and municipalities, should ideally be conducted within 100 days of the Lok Sabha and state assembly polls.
During a previous meeting on March 25, the committee held extensive discussions with legal experts. Justice D.N. Patel, former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, said the ‘One Nation, One Election’ idea could cut costs, boost governance, and streamline the election process, although logistical challenges like EVM deployment and security must be addressed. He emphasised that the proposal aligns with the Constitution and doesn’t threaten its federal structure.
Attorney General R. Venkataramani, also present at the March session, supported the proposed changes, noting they would result in financial efficiency and enhanced accountability. He stated that the amendments would not violate core constitutional values, including federalism or democratic participation. However, he urged greater clarity regarding the powers of the Election Commission under the new framework. He also disagreed with proposals to differentiate between major and minor term curtailments for state assemblies.
Despite the support, several MPs expressed concerns about practical challenges, including the integration of regional and national issues in a single electoral event. They also sought assurances that the interests of regional parties would be safeguarded and that democratic diversity would not be compromised.
The ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal remains under active review, with the JPC working to gather comprehensive inputs before finalising recommendations.
