New Delhi, August 23, 2026

The NDA is reportedly considering a plan to hold Assembly elections in 22 NDA-governed states and Union Territories alongside the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, rather than waiting until 2034. The proposal could involve bringing the election schedules of several states in line with the general elections by dissolving their Assemblies before their current terms are completed. The move has once again brought the One Nation, One Election proposal into focus, with major constitutional, political and federal questions surrounding its possible implementation.

The discussions are taking place while the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the One Nation, One Election Bills continues to consult Chief Ministers, legislators, officials and other stakeholders. The committee is studying the constitutional and administrative changes needed to synchronise election cycles, and its chairman, P P Chaudhary, has said that the panel is working on a mechanism that could make simultaneous elections possible by 2029. Of the 22 NDA-ruled states and Union Territories under consideration, 11 are scheduled to hold Assembly polls during the two years before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, while Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Odisha already hold their Assembly elections alongside the general elections.

If the plan moves forward and the concerned NDA governments agree, some Assemblies could potentially be dissolved by January 2029. Article 174(2)(b) of the Constitution gives the Governor the power to dissolve a state Assembly, normally on the advice of the Council of Ministers. This could substantially reduce the tenure of several Assemblies. Goa, Gujarat, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand could see their terms shortened by around three years, while Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Rajasthan and Tripura could face cuts of around four years. Some NDA Chief Ministers, including those of Goa, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Delhi, have expressed support for synchronising elections. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said, “If aligning election schedules at the national level requires a suitable adjustment in Delhi’s tenure, the Delhi Government is willing to consider it with a positive approach,” adding, “If required in the national interest, Delhi could be among the leading states to extend such cooperation.”

The proposal, however, is likely to intensify the political debate over One Nation, One Election. Opposition parties have argued that reducing the tenure of elected state governments could raise concerns over federalism and democratic accountability. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “The Congress is opposed to One Nation One Election. It is unconstitutional, anti-democratic and against accountability.” The JPC is still examining the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seek to establish a framework for simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. As consultations continue and the committee prepares its recommendations, the possibility of advancing the first phase of simultaneous elections to 2029 is set to remain a significant political and constitutional issue.