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.