Lok Sabha Approves JPC Tenure Extension to Review Simultaneous Elections Bills
Lok Sabha extends JPC tenure to 2026 for detailed review of Bills enabling simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.
The Lok Sabha on Wednesday approved an extension to the tenure of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) tasked with examining Bills to implement simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. The extension allows the panel additional time to finalise recommendations on the proposed electoral reform, popularly referred to as “One Nation, One Election.”
BJP MP PP Chaudhary, chairing the 39-member JPC, moved a motion in the Lower House seeking to extend the committee’s term until the first day of the last week of the 2026 Monsoon Session. The motion was adopted through a voice vote without opposition, signalling broad procedural consensus to grant the committee more time for deliberation.
The extension specifically covers the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, which proposes constitutional changes to enable synchronized polls, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which addresses necessary adjustments for Union Territories. Both Bills were introduced in December 2024 by Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, with the stated objectives of reducing the frequency of elections, lowering electoral expenditure, minimising governance disruptions due to the model code of conduct, and enhancing administrative efficiency.
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Since its formation late last year, the JPC has conducted multiple meetings and consulted a wide range of stakeholders, including constitutional experts, economists, former election commissioners, representatives from political parties, and the Law Commission. Inputs have focused on feasibility, legal implications, logistical requirements, and the potential impact on federalism and democratic processes.
Proponents of simultaneous elections argue that they would ensure policy continuity and national focus, while critics caution about potential drawbacks, including effects on regional issues, anti-defection laws, premature dissolutions of assemblies, and the need for extensive constitutional amendments.
The extended tenure provides the committee with a structured timeline to complete its assessment, allowing Parliament to consider its recommendations thoroughly before further legislative action.
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