Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing to introduce a landmark bill aimed at merging national and regional elections into a single voting day. The proposed legislation, set to be introduced in December, seeks to streamline India’s electoral process, reduce costs, and boost voter turnout.
The draft bill, part of the ruling BJP’s “One Nation, One Election” initiative, would synchronize national elections for the Lok Sabha with regional state assembly elections. Additionally, local body elections would be held within 100 days of the larger polls. This approach, last practiced in India before 1967, would mark a significant change in the way India’s elections are conducted.
A committee, led by former President Ramnath Kovind, has studied the feasibility of simultaneous elections, and its findings support the BJP’s vision. The Law Commission of India is also expected to recommend the implementation of the simultaneous election system starting in 2029.
India’s elections are among the most expensive in the world. In 2024, the cost of elections is projected to reach 1.3 trillion rupees. By merging elections, the government hopes to reduce these costs significantly, while making the process more efficient and transparent.
Opposition parties, however, have raised concerns, arguing that simultaneous elections could diminish the influence of regional parties, allowing larger national parties like the BJP to dominate. Critics also point out the logistical challenges of implementing such a complex system in a country as vast and diverse as India.
As the draft bill is expected to be tabled in December, the proposal will likely spark heated debate within the Indian political landscape.