Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has argued that simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies cannot be held in 2029 under the proposed 'One Nation, One Election' legislation. He also warned that the Congress and other Opposition parties would launch a nationwide campaign against the Bills, which seek to establish a common election cycle.

Chidambaram's remarks came a day after Joint Parliamentary Committee chairman PP Chaudhary indicated that simultaneous elections in 2029 could be possible if the Constitution were amended and state governments supported the proposal. The JPC is examining the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which were introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2024.

In a post on X, Chidambaram argued that the proposed legislation itself would prevent simultaneous elections from being held in 2029. He pointed to the provision concerning the "appointed date", which he said could only fall after a general election. Since the next Lok Sabha election is scheduled for 2029, he argued that simultaneous polls that year would not be possible.

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Chidambaram also criticised the constitutional basis of the proposal, describing the Bills as a "constitutional monstrosity" in a parliamentary democracy and federal system. He said he had submitted his views to the JPC and argued that the legislation could affect the basic features of the Constitution, particularly parliamentary democracy and the federal structure. Sources said he strongly opposed the proposal during his deposition and termed it unconstitutional.

According to sources, Chidambaram also argued that shortening the tenure of legislatures elected for five years would raise constitutional concerns. He further maintained that the government does not have the two-thirds majority required for the proposed constitutional changes and said he could not support the Bills. He indicated that Opposition parties would take their objections to the proposal to the country through a wider political campaign.

The idea of simultaneous elections has historical precedent in India. Lok Sabha and state assembly elections were held together in 1951-52, 1957, 1962 and 1967 before the cycle was disrupted by premature dissolutions of several state assemblies in 1968 and 1969. The Fourth Lok Sabha was also dissolved early in 1970, followed by elections in 1971, contributing to the staggered election cycle that continues today.

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