Mon Dec 09 21:10:00 UTC 2024: ## Government Plans to Introduce Simultaneous Elections Bills in Winter Session
**New Delhi, December 10, 2024** – The Union government is poised to introduce legislation enabling simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, and local bodies as early as the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament. A government source revealed plans for wider consultations before tabling the Bill(s), likely to be referred to a joint parliamentary committee afterward. The government aims to engage with all State Assembly Speakers through these committees.
While the Union Cabinet has endorsed the recommendations of the Ram Nath Kovind-led committee advocating phased implementation of simultaneous elections, the proposed Bills are yet to receive final Cabinet approval. The government anticipates introducing three Bills: two constitutional amendments and one ordinary Bill.
One constitutional amendment would modify Article 82A to establish a “appointed date” for phased simultaneous elections and synchronize the terms of the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. Another amendment to Article 83(2) would address the duration and dissolution of the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. Further amendments to Article 327 would explicitly include “simultaneous elections.” These amendments, targeting national-level matters, won’t require state ratification.
A second constitutional amendment Bill, however, will require ratification by at least half of the State Assemblies, as it addresses state-level electoral roll preparation by the Election Commission in coordination with State Election Commissions for local body elections.
Finally, an ordinary Bill will amend laws governing Union Territories with legislative assemblies (Puducherry, Delhi, and Jammu & Kashmir) to align their assembly terms with the proposed changes.
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