ELECTORAL SYNCHRONICITY IN INDIA: A LEGISLATIVE AND CONSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE ‘ONE NATION, ONE ELECTION’ FRAMEWORK
AUTHOR – HEMAALAYA. RA* & Ms. DIVYA .S**
* STUDENT AT VELS INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & ADVANCED STUDIES (VISTAS)
** ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT SCHOOL OF LAW, VELS INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ADVANCED STUDIES (VISTAS)
BEST CITATION – HEMAALAYA. RA & Ms. DIVYA .S, ELECTORAL SYNCHRONICITY IN INDIA: A LEGISLATIVE AND CONSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE ‘ONE NATION, ONE ELECTION’ FRAMEWORK, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (7) OF 2026, PG. 663-670, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344. DOI – https://doi.org/10.65393/IJLRV6I772
Abstract
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.