Photo: ANI
New Delhi: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) reviewing proposals for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies is unlikely to submit its report during the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, according to sources.
Although the Lok Sabha has extended the committee’s term until the conclusion of the monsoon session, the panel has not yet completed its nationwide consultations. Sources said the committee is likely to request additional time before finalising its recommendations, The New Indian Express reported.
The delay comes amid speculation that the central government is considering introducing major constitutional amendment proposals, including bills related to delimitation and the “One Nation, One Election” initiative, during the monsoon session, which is expected to begin in the third week of July.
The 39-member JPC, headed by BJP MP P P Chaudhary, is examining the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seek to establish a system of simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The proposals were introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2024 and later referred to the committee for detailed scrutiny.
The government has argued that simultaneous elections would reduce the financial costs associated with repeated polls, limit disruptions caused by the Model Code of Conduct, and allow governments to concentrate more effectively on administration. Opposition parties, however, have raised concerns that the move could weaken the federal structure and affect the constitutional powers of states.
Sources said the government is also exploring the possibility of linking the delimitation proposal with the simultaneous elections plan in an effort to build broader political support and advance both initiatives.
During the previous Budget session, a constitutional amendment related to linking delimitation with the women’s reservation law was rejected in the Lok Sabha after opposition parties opposed it collectively.
The government remains keen to move forward with the delimitation process to facilitate the implementation of women’s reservation in the Lok Sabha before the 2029 general elections. However, the NDA would require a two-thirds majority, amounting to 360 votes in a House strength of 540 members, to pass the constitutional amendments.
The JPC, which is scheduled to visit the Delhi Assembly on Wednesday to consult stakeholders, has so far conducted visits to 10 states. Several more state-level consultations are still pending.
The committee chairman has indicated that even if the required legislative steps are completed, simultaneous elections may not be implemented before 2034.