‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill Proposes to Align J&K Assembly Polls with LS Elections

SRINAGAR: The Union Government on Tuesday introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha to amend “The Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019” for synchronising the Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory’s Assembly poll cycle with Lok Sabha elections.

Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal introduced The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 to amend the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.

While amendments in the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 aim to align assembly polls in Puducherry and Delhi with Lok Sabha elections, the changes to the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 seek to synchronise Jammu & Kashmir’s electoral cycle with Lok Sabha polls under the Union Government’s “one nation, one election” initiative.

After its introduction in the Lok Sabha, both the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 and The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 were referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed deliberation.

The proposed amendments to the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 define the full term of the Legislative Assembly as five years, starting from the date of its first meeting. The term will conclude on the expiry of the Lok Sabha’s full term after the President of India notifies the “appointed day” for implementing the “one nation, one election” law.

The bill specifies that simultaneous elections will take effect from an “appointed date” to be notified by the President following the first sitting of the Lok Sabha after a general election. Since the first sitting of the Lok Sabha elected in 2024 has already taken place, the earliest possible appointed date for simultaneous elections would coincide with the first sitting of the House elected in 2029. Consequently, simultaneous polls could begin by 2034, marking the end of that Lok Sabha’s term.

Notably, the bill will not affect the existing five-year term of the J&K Assembly, which began on 8 October 2024. However, it would shorten the tenure of the next UT Assembly by six months in 2034.

According to the bill, if the J&K Assembly is dissolved before completing its five-year term, any mid-term election held would only cover the remaining period of five years. (KNO)