P. Chidambaram opposes One Nation, One Election bill before JPC

Former Union Minister and Congress leader P. Chidambaram has opposed the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal before a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). Appearing before the committee reviewing the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Chidambaram described the initiative to synchronize Lok Sabha and state assembly elections as ‘monstrous’ and ‘unconstitutional.’

Chidambaram argued that since legislatures are elected for five-year terms, shortening any assembly's tenure to align with a national schedule would violate the basic structure of the Constitution. He further noted that the government lacks the two-thirds majority required to pass such legislation.

Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghosh also voiced opposition, stating the law could grant the Election Commission ‘uncontrolled’ powers. The JPC, chaired by BJP MP P.P. Chaudhary, has also heard from a group of Padma awardees, with opinions divided on whether synchronized elections would improve efficiency or lead to administrative chaos. Historically, India held simultaneous elections from 1951 to 1967 before the practice was disrupted by the premature dissolution of several state assemblies.