ELECTORAL SYNCHRONICITY IN INDIA: A LEGISLATIVE AND CONSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE 'ONE NATION, ONE ELECTION' FRAMEWORK

This paper undertakes a comprehensive legislative framework analysis of the One Nation, One
Election (ONOE) proposal in India. ONOE envisions the simultaneous conduct of elections to the Lok
Sabha and all State Legislative Assemblies, thereby eliminating the cycle of staggered polls that
currently characterises Indian electoral democracy. The analysis examines the constitutional
provisions governing the terms of Parliament and State Assemblies, the authority vested in the
President and Governors for dissolution, the tensions inherent in India's federal structure, and the
amendments required to the Representation of the People Acts of 1950 and 1951.
The paper critically evaluates the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the HighLevel
Committee Report led by former President Ram Nath Kovind. It examines doctrines such as the Basic
Structure, the Remainder Term, the Appointed Date mechanism, and the proposed Logistical
Deferment clause. Drawing upon landmark judicial decisions including Kesavananda Bharati v. State
of Kerala, S.R. Bommai v. Union of India, and Samsher Singh v. State of Punjab the paper assesses the
constitutional validity of ONOE and the procedural prerequisites for its implementation. The paper
concludes by mapping the legislative roadmap and identifying the unresolved federal tensions that
continue to delay ratification of the proposed amendments.