• The Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave its approval to two Bills aimed at implementing simultaneous state and national elections.

• According to reports, the Cabinet cleared the Constitutional Amendment Bill to conduct elections to the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies together and a second Bill to align the polls in the Union Territories of Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu & Kashmir. The second bill does not require amending the Constitution.

• The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance will need backing from some of the members of the opposition INDIA alliance, besides fence-sitters, to ensure the passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill requiring support from two-thirds of the members in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

• The NDA's current strength in Lok Sabha, which currently has 542 members and one vacancy, is around 293 against the two-third mark of 361. The INDIA bloc enjoys support of nearly 235 MPs.

• In Rajya Sabha, the ruling alliance has nearly 122 members, a tally which is set to rise after the ongoing process to fill vacancies will be over. The sanctioned strength in Rajya Sabha is 243.

• In September, the Union Cabinet approved the recommendations of a high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind. The Kovind panel had submitted the report in March ahead of the announcement of Lok Sabha elections.

• Simultaneous polls were held in the country between 1951 and 1967. The concept of simultaneous elections has featured in many reports and studies since 1983, essentially implying a return to the previous practice of conducting polls concurrently.

Main recommendations of the panel:

1) Amendment to Article 82A: The Committee recommends amending Article 82A of the Constitution to allow the President to set an ‘appointed date’ for starting simultaneous elections to the House of the People and Legislative Assemblies. After this date, state Assemblies would align their terms with the Parliament, enabling synchronised elections.

2) Term Synchronisation: If the recommendations are adopted after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the first simultaneous elections could be held in 2029.

• Alternatively, if aiming for the 2034 elections, the appointed date would be set after the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.

• States with elections scheduled between June 2024 and May 2029 would have their terms end with the 18th Lok Sabha, potentially resulting in shorter terms for some state assemblies as a one-time adjustment.

• States like West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu (2026), Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh (2027), and Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Telangana (2028) would adjust their election cycles accordingly.

• The government elected post-2024 will decide when to start simultaneous elections, either in 2029 or 2034.

3) Premature Dissolution Measures: To maintain synchronisation in case of early dissolution of Parliament or a state Assembly, fresh elections would be held only for the remaining term until the next simultaneous elections.

• This ensures that any hung House or no-confidence motions do not disrupt the overall timeline for synchronized elections.

4) Synchronisation of Local Body Elections: Parliament is advised to pass legislation, possibly via Article 324A, to align municipalities and panchayats elections with General Elections.

• This law would set the terms for local bodies to match the national electoral schedule.

5) Electoral Roll Preparation and Management: The Committee proposes amending Article 325 to enable the Election Commission of India (EC) to create a unified electoral roll and Elector’s Photo Identity Card (EPIC) for all levels of government, in consultation with State Election Commissions (SECs).

• Currently, the EC prepares electoral rolls for Lok Sabha, while SECs handle local bodies. Harmonising these processes would prevent duplication and protect voter rights.

6) Logistical Arrangements and Expenditure Estimation: The Committee calls on the ECI to provide detailed logistical and expenditure plans for simultaneous elections.

• Comprehensive plans should cover equipment, personnel deployment, and security measures, developed in coordination with SECs.

7) Impact on Governance and Development: The Committee emphasizes that certainty in governance is crucial for effective decision-making and sustained development.

• Synchronised elections can help avoid policy paralysis and create a favorable environment for progress.

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