‘Remainder of the term’ after fall of governments under ‘One Nation, One Election’ will be decided in consultation with parties: JPC Chairman

PP Choudhary, Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on ‘One Nation, One Election’, said on Monday, May 16, 2026. The decision on the definition of the ‘remainder of the term’ for the Lok Sabha or State Assemblies before the election is held will be a political decision to be taken in consultation with political parties.

In his statement to the press here, Choudhary said, “Assuming that the government loses the majority after two and a half years, by-elections can be held for the remaining two and a half year period. However, a decision needs to be made in case the majority is lost six months or three months before the end of the period. The decision to give a blackout period to determine the rest of the period will have to be a political decision in consultation with the parties.”

He spoke after consulting with various stakeholders on the Constitution (129^This Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill on concurrent elections. He suggested that anti-defection legislation should also be amended and that President’s Rule could also apply for the remainder of the term.

When asked about the fragmentation of the distribution of duties preventing the formation of a government, he said that there was a mechanism to resolve such a situation. “Fragmentation of the task can occur in every system. Various suggestions have been made on how synchronization can be achieved. Discussions about the rest of the period are ongoing.”

Drawing attention to Article 93 of the Constitution^third The amendment for local bodies has addressed the remainder of the term, he said: “When that can be achieved at the grassroots level, why cannot it be incorporated at the level of State Assemblies and Parliament? There could be a possibility of electing a Chief Minister by the Assembly also.”

“Nowhere in the world will you see elections being held for 5-6 Parliaments every year. Everyone is affected in a chain manner. Programs do not reach people. The election work falls on teachers. It is important that elections be held together.” He pointed out that in four elections between 1952 and 1967, general elections and State Assembly elections were held simultaneously.

“The cycle has been broken by President’s Rule and the imposition of the emergency and the creation of new states. We cannot underestimate voters. They are careful, especially in rural areas. Even though they express their preferences publicly, they know who to vote for at the state and national level. In the past, voters chose different governments when simultaneous elections were held,” he said.

To another question on whether there will be a ‘One Nation-One Party’ system, Mr. Choudhary asked: “Do you think what happened between 1952 and 1967 happened for one party? It is not a proposal made by the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi). The Election Commission had recommended it in 1980; the Law Commission of India had recommended it three times in the past; the Parliamentary Standing Committee had also recommended holding simultaneous elections in 2015.”

He said that some parties have different attitudes on the issue, but ultimately this is a public policy in national interests. “In democracy, the people have the will and the parties will have to change their attitudes according to the will of the people.