NDA explores 2029 election alignment

The NDA is reportedly exploring the possibility of holding Assembly elections in 22 NDA-ruled states and Union Territories alongside the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, potentially bringing forward the first phase of simultaneous polls from the 2034 timeline currently envisaged under the proposed legislation.

The plan, if pursued, could involve dissolving several state Assemblies before the completion of their existing terms. The move would represent a significant change from the election cycle outlined in the One Nation One Election Bills currently being examined by a Joint Parliamentary Committee.

What the current Bills propose

The Joint Committee of Parliament was constituted in December 2024 to examine the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Under the framework proposed in the Bills, the terms of Assemblies elected after the first sitting of the Lok Sabha following a general election would be adjusted so that their elections could eventually be synchronised.

As the Bills currently stand, the earliest full cycle of simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections would be in 2034.

However, the reported NDA proposal would seek to achieve an earlier alignment by using the constitutional mechanism for dissolving state Assemblies.

22 states could be brought into cycle

Of the 22 NDA-ruled states and UTs reportedly being considered, 11 are scheduled to face Assembly elections during the two years preceding the 2029 Lok Sabha election.

Four NDA-ruled states — Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Odisha — already hold Assembly elections alongside Lok Sabha polls.

If the NDA retains its governments in the other states, their Assemblies could potentially be dissolved before their scheduled terms end, allowing elections to be held alongside the 2029 general election.

The proposal would require some states to accept significantly shortened Assembly terms.

Terms could be cut by years

Under the reported plan, Goa, Gujarat, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand could see their Assembly terms shortened by around three years.

Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Rajasthan and Tripura could face reductions of around four years because their elections are currently scheduled for 2027 or 2028.

Delhi has also indicated that it could consider adjusting its Assembly tenure if necessary to align elections nationally.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has expressed a willingness to consider such an adjustment in the national interest.

Opposition raises constitutional concerns

The proposal is likely to intensify the political debate around One Nation One Election, particularly because several Opposition-ruled states have election schedules that do not coincide with the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.

Punjab is due for Assembly elections in 2027, while Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Mizoram and Telangana are scheduled for elections in 2028.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh reiterated the party's opposition to simultaneous elections, describing the proposal as unconstitutional, anti-democratic and detrimental to political accountability.

The Congress and other Opposition parties had also opposed the introduction of the One Nation One Election Bills in Parliament in 2024.

Committee says decision lies with states

Joint Parliamentary Committee chairman P P Chaudhary has indicated that deciding whether elections should be brought forward to 2029 is outside the committee's mandate.

He said the matter would be for NDA Chief Ministers to decide.

The committee has meanwhile continued consultations with state governments, legislators, constitutional experts, academics, legal professionals and other stakeholders. It is expected to submit its report during the Winter Session of Parliament.

Why 2029 matters

Synchronising elections in 2029 would represent a major acceleration of the One Nation One Election proposal. Instead of waiting until the 2034 cycle contemplated by the current Bills, the NDA would seek to create an electoral alignment within the next Lok Sabha term.

However, such a move would require political coordination across states and could trigger major constitutional and political questions over shortened Assembly terms, the autonomy of state governments and the federal structure.

For now, the 2029 proposal remains under discussion. Whether the NDA-ruled states agree to dissolve their Assemblies early — and whether the broader legislative framework receives Parliament's approval — will determine whether simultaneous elections can move from a proposal to an actual electoral timetable.

According to party insiders, the proposed Rath Yatra will travel across different regions of Uttar Pradesh, focusing on strengthening the Samajwadi Party's support base among the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit and Alpsankhyak) social coalition while also reaching out to other sections of society ahead of the elections. The route and schedule are expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.

The decision to begin the yatra from a religious location is being viewed as part of Akhilesh Yadav's evolving political strategy. In recent weeks, the SP chief has made several appearances linked to religious and cultural issues, including his meeting with Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand and his remarks on Ayodhya and Sanatan traditions. Political observers believe these moves reflect an attempt to counter the BJP's dominance over religious narratives while retaining the party's traditional social justice agenda.

The proposed campaign is expected to highlight issues such as unemployment, inflation, farmers' concerns, education and law and order. At the same time, party leaders are likely to use the yatra to mobilise workers at the grassroots level and prepare district units for the upcoming Assembly election battle.

Although the Samajwadi Party has not officially announced the exact starting point, sources suggest that a major religious centre is under consideration. The choice is expected to carry symbolic significance and could become one of the key talking points of the party's campaign launch.

The Rath Yatra will also provide Akhilesh Yadav with an opportunity to interact directly with voters across the state through public meetings and roadshows. Similar statewide campaigns have previously formed an important part of the Samajwadi Party's election strategy, helping the leadership connect with local workers and communicate the party's agenda before polling.

With less than a year remaining before Uttar Pradesh heads to the polls, political parties have begun intensifying their preparations. While the BJP is expected to focus on governance and welfare initiatives, the Samajwadi Party is positioning its PDA campaign as the centrepiece of its election strategy.

The launch of the proposed Rath Yatra is expected to mark the beginning of an aggressive campaign season in Uttar Pradesh, with political activity likely to intensify across the state in the months leading up to the Assembly elections.

The Chhattisgarh High Court has declined to grant relief to former Chief Minister and Patan MLA Bhupesh Baghel in an election dispute case, clearing the way for a detailed hearing on a petition challenging his 2023 Assembly election victory. The court rejected Baghel's application seeking dismissal of the election petition and ruled that the matter warrants consideration on its merits.

The petition, filed by Durg MP Vijay Baghel, alleges that Bhupesh Baghel violated provisions of election law during the 2023 Chhattisgarh Assembly elections. The petitioner has sought to have Baghel's election declared void on the grounds of alleged violations during the campaign period.

With the High Court refusing to dismiss the case at the preliminary stage, regular hearings on the merits of the petition are scheduled to begin on June 23.

Allegations of Model Code Violation

According to the petition, Bhupesh Baghel allegedly participated in a rally and roadshow in the Patan constituency during the silence period immediately before polling, when election campaigning is prohibited under the Representation of the People Act.

The petitioner claims that election slogans were raised and votes were solicited during the event, constituting a violation of Section 126 of the Act. The allegations are reportedly supported by video recordings and other electronic material submitted before the court.

The petition argues that these actions amounted to a breach of election regulations and therefore justify a challenge to the validity of the election result.

Court Finds Petition Maintainable

During the proceedings, Bhupesh Baghel's legal team argued that the petition lacked sufficient particulars and should be dismissed without a trial. The defense contended that the allegations were vague and unsupported by conclusive evidence.

Counsel for Baghel also raised questions regarding the admissibility of electronic evidence, arguing that the petition did not include the required certification under Section 65B of the Indian Evidence Act for digital records.

The defense further maintained that the petitioner had failed to establish the identity of individuals involved in the alleged roadshow or provide clear proof linking the events directly to Baghel's consent and participation.

However, the High Court observed that the facts presented in the petition were sufficient to allow the case to proceed. The court held that issues relating to the authenticity and evidentiary value of documents and electronic records would be examined during the trial stage.

Previous Legal Efforts

This is not the first attempt by Bhupesh Baghel to challenge the maintainability of the election petition. Earlier applications seeking dismissal of the case had also failed before the High Court.

Subsequently, Baghel approached the Supreme Court, which permitted him to file a fresh application before the High Court on the issue of maintainability. Acting on that liberty, he filed the latest plea, which has now been rejected.

The High Court clarified that the former Chief Minister remains free to challenge the authenticity of evidence and electronic records during the course of the trial.

Political and Legal Significance

The case carries political significance as it involves one of Chhattisgarh's most prominent political leaders. Legal experts note that election petitions are governed by a high evidentiary threshold, and courts typically require detailed examination of facts before arriving at a final conclusion.

The court's latest order does not determine the truth of the allegations but only confirms that the petition contains sufficient grounds for a full hearing.

Congress in West Bengal has entered the Assembly election battle with a cautious but calculated strategy, seeking to revive its shrinking political base while avoiding a direct confrontation with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC). The party’s approach reflects a delicate balancing act as it attempts to regain organisational relevance in the state without damaging broader opposition equations.

Limited Seat Focus

Congress is contesting 292 seats in West Bengal, but party leaders have made it clear that the campaign is not spread evenly across the state. Instead, the focus remains on a limited set of constituencies where the party believes it still has organisational presence, identifiable voter support and realistic electoral prospects.

According to party sources, Congress expects that even a modest seat tally, combined with an improved vote share, would help re-establish its political relevance in the state. The party has concentrated resources on select districts rather than pursuing an expansive state-wide campaign.

Core Congress Pockets

The party’s campaign has largely centred around Malda, Murshidabad, Kolkata, Hooghly, Raiganj, North Dinajpur and Birbhum. These regions have historically formed the backbone of Congress support in West Bengal and continue to offer some residual social and political capital.

Congress is particularly attempting to consolidate its traditional voter base among minorities and rural communities in these districts. Party strategists believe these constituencies offer the best chance to rebuild grassroots structures and recover lost political space, as per reports from state leaders.

Rahul’s Measured Messaging

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s campaign stops in West Bengal reflected this selective strategy. He addressed rallies in Srirampur, represented by state Congress president Subhankar Sarkar, and in Murshidabad, the home district of senior leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

His messaging remained measured. While Rahul Gandhi mentioned Mamata Banerjee only briefly, his speeches were largely directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The calibrated tone suggested Congress was attempting to protect its own leadership space in Bengal without escalating tensions with the TMC.

Avoiding Direct Clash

Congress has been notably restrained in constituencies where the principal contest is between the TMC and BJP. Party leaders appear reluctant to adopt an aggressive posture in these seats, mindful of the larger opposition landscape beyond West Bengal.

Sources indicated that Congress does not want its state-level campaign to undermine the possibility of future cooperation with the TMC at the national level. This explains the party’s selective aggression assertive where it sees room for revival, cautious where direct attacks could complicate national opposition politics.

Identity Crisis Persists

The strategy, however, carries clear risks. Congress faces a persistent identity challenge in West Bengal, where its political space has been squeezed by both the TMC and BJP over the past decade. By avoiding a sharper line against the ruling party, Congress risks appearing politically ambiguous to voters.

The central question before the electorate remains whether Congress is positioning itself as an independent challenger or as a tacit ally in the state’s larger anti-BJP framework. That lack of clarity could weaken the party’s attempt to rebuild an independent political identity, according to political observers.

What Lies Ahead

For Congress, the immediate objective in West Bengal is less about sweeping gains and more about organisational survival. The party is using this election to test whether its old support base can still be mobilised and whether selective interventions can translate into electoral relevance.

Its performance in these targeted pockets will determine whether Congress can rebuild a durable state unit or remain a marginal player in Bengal politics. For now, Congress in West Bengal is betting on restraint, regional strength and careful messaging to stay politically afloat in a complex electoral contest.