- The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 17, 2024. The Bill seeks to empower the Election Commission to conduct elections for Lok Sabha and all State Assemblies at the same time (referred to as simultaneous election).
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Commencement of simultaneous election: To bring the provisions of the Bill into force, the President may issue a notification on the date of the first sitting of Lok Sabha after a general election. The terms of all State Assemblies constituted after the date of the notification will expire with the expiry of the full term of Lok Sabha. Hence, elections to Lok Sabha and all State Assemblies thereafter will be conducted together.
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Premature dissolution of Lok Sabha or State Assemblies: If Lok Sabha or a State Assembly is dissolved sooner than its full term of five years, fresh election will be held for a term equal to the remainder of the five-year term. This will synchronise elections for Lok Sabha and all Assemblies every five years.
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Deferring a state election: If the Election Commission is of the opinion that the election for a particular State Assembly cannot be held as part of the simultaneous election, it may make a recommendation to the President in this regard. Upon this recommendation, the President may issue an order to conduct election for this State Assembly at a later date. Where the election for a State Assembly is deferred to after the simultaneous election, its term will end with the end of Lok Sabha constituted in that simultaneous election.
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