Simultaneous Elections in India Unlikely in 2024: Reports

New Delhi: The prospect of simultaneous elections in India in 2024 appears unlikely, according to certain prominent media reports. The Law Commission believes that implementing the ‘One Nation, One Election’ system before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections is not feasible due to ongoing work related to the matter.

The Law Commission is expected to release its report on simultaneous elections prior to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Chairman of the Law Commission, Justice Rituraj Awasthi, mentioned that the report will take some time to complete, given the complexities involved in simultaneous elections.

The report aims to propose constitutional amendments to introduce simultaneous elections exclusively for Lok Sabha and state assembly elections.

Back in December 2022, the 22nd Law Commission initiated discussions by posing six questions to various stakeholders, including national political parties, the Election Commission of India, bureaucrats, academicians, and experts. The report, once finalized, will be submitted to the Union Law Ministry.

In 2018, the 21st Law Commission submitted a draft report to the Union Law Ministry advocating for simultaneous elections. The benefits cited included cost savings, reduced burden on administrative resources and security forces, and improved government policy implementation. However, it noted that such elections were not feasible within the existing constitutional framework and recommended amendments to the Representation of the People Act, 1951, to facilitate the conduct of all by-elections in a single calendar.