REPORT ON ONE NATION, ONE POLL LIKELY NEXT WEEK

lf Law Commission may propose unity government’ to avoid instability

- ASHISH SINHA

Coming week, the Law Commission is poised to present its report to the Central Government concerning of ‘one nation, one election’. This anticipated report, led by Justice (retd) Ritu Raj Awasthi, may propose constitutional amendments to facilitate simultaneous Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, and local body elections nationwide by mid-2029, according to insider sources.

The proposed amendments of Law Commission would introduce a new chapter to the Constitution, empowering the synchronization of election cycles and potentially overriding existing provisions related to assembly terms. The envisioned changes aim to streamline electoral processes, including the implementation of common electoral rolls across all tiers of government.

Furthermore, the Commission is considering a phased approach to align the terms of legislative assemblies over the next five years, with the ultimate goal of conducting the first simultaneous elections in May-June 2029, coinciding with the 19th Lok Sabha elections. This strategy entails the reduction of assembly tenures by a few months in the initial phase to facilitate synchronization.

Moreover, to address scenarios such as governmental instability or hung assemblies, the Commission may propose the establishment of a “unity government” comprising representatives from various political factions. Should this arrangement prove ineffective, the Commission may advocate for fresh elections to complete the remaining term of the House.