New Delhi: The central government is planning to implement nationwide simultaneous elections by 2034, as per the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024. Under this proposal, state assemblies elected after 2029 will have reduced terms to align with the 2034 Lok Sabha elections.
PP Chaudhary, who is serving as the Chairperson of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) evaluating the bill, told The Times of India that, for instance, the Uttar Pradesh assembly elected in 2032 might serve only a two-year term to synchronise with the 2034 general elections. Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, plays a pivotal role in national politics.
Consolidated election of state assemblies and parliament
The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, along with the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, contains provisions to enable simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and all state assemblies. To facilitate this, the President has issued a notice following a general election, marking the start of a unified five-year term for both Parliament and state assemblies. Any state assembly formed after the given would have its term end concurrently with the Lok Sabha’s term.
If either the Lok Sabha or a state assembly is dissolved before the completion of its term, elections would be conducted to serve the remaining period that ensured the next regular election remains part of the national synchronised cycle.
ECI acquires more power
The bill also grants new powers to the Election Commission of India (ECI). If the ECI decides that a state assembly election cannot be held parallel to the simultaneous polls, it may suggest the postponement to the President. Unlike the current provisions under Article 356, that needs parliamentary approval for delaying elections, the proposed amendment empowers the ECI to make such recommendations independently.
PP Chawdhury, is BJP MP at Pali, in Rajasthan, said the JPC might seek an extension of its tenure. The committee aims to visit more states and Union Territories to gather public and stakeholder feedback before settling its report. So far, the panel has visited Maharashtra and Uttarakhand. The two bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2024 and were subsequently referred to the JPC for detailed review.
