Congress, BJP-JDS Clash Over ‘One Nation, One Election’ During JPC Consultations In Karnataka

Last Updated:May 17, 2026, 09:41 IST

The ‘One Nation, One Election’ debate intensified in Karnataka as the BJP-JDS alliance backed simultaneous polls while the Congress strongly opposed the proposal.

The politics around the proposed ‘One Nation, One Election’ framework sharpened in Karnataka on Saturday as the Congress and the BJP-JDS alliance took opposing positions during consultations held by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the proposed constitutional amendments linked to simultaneous elections.

The discussions were held in Bengaluru as part of the JPC’s nationwide consultative exercise on the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

The committee, chaired by BJP MP PP Chaudhary, is engaging with political parties, constitutional experts and stakeholders across states to gather views on the proposed electoral framework.

BJP-JDS BACKS SIMULTANEOUS POLLS

Backing the proposal, the Karnataka BJP submitted a memorandum urging the implementation of simultaneous elections across the country.

BJP state president BY Vijayendra, along with senior party leaders, participated in the consultations.

MPs PC Mohan, Yaduveer Wadiyar and Dr CN Manjunath were among those present during the discussions.

According to IANS, the BJP strongly supported the implementation of the initiative during the meeting convened by the JPC at Bengaluru’s Taj West End hotel.

Several BJP legislators, MLCs and office-bearers also attended the consultation process.

The support from the BJP-JDS alliance comes amid the Centre’s push for broader political consensus on the proposal, which the ruling dispensation argues could streamline governance and reduce the frequency of elections across the country.

DK SHIVAKUMAR LEADS CONGRESS ATTACK

The Congress, however, mounted a strong attack on the proposal, with Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC president DK Shivakumar terming it a “politically motivated" move aimed at centralising power and weakening the federal structure.

Participating in the discussion organised by the JPC, Shivakumar said the proposed framework posed a threat to democracy and was being designed to suit the convenience of those in power at the Centre.

He categorically rejected the proposal both as Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and as Karnataka Congress chief.

Shivakumar also pointed out that the Karnataka Legislative Assembly had already passed a resolution opposing the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, and said he read out the resolution during the meeting.

‘HOW CAN ELECTIONS BE SYNCHRONISED?’

Questioning the practicality of simultaneous polls, Shivakumar raised concerns over governments collapsing mid-term due to political instability or no-confidence motions.

“If a government falls mid-term due to political instability, a no-confidence motion, or lack of majority, what is to be done then? Where is the solution to this?" he asked during the consultation.

He further argued that elections in different states are conducted at different times and for different terms, making synchronisation difficult.

“Karnataka had its election three years ago, Tamil Nadu and Kerala had theirs just recently, and Punjab and Telangana had theirs at different times. How can these elections of varying schedules be synchronised?" Shivakumar questioned.

The Congress leader also alleged that the proposal was aimed at suppressing the voices of regional and Opposition parties, asserting that the Karnataka government stood by the position taken by the party’s national leadership.

JPC CONTINUES NATIONWIDE CONSULTATIONS

The Bengaluru consultations are part of a wider outreach exercise being undertaken by the Joint Parliamentary Committee across the country.

The committee has already held consultations in Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh before beginning its Bengaluru and Gandhinagar visits from May 16 to 21.

The committee is interacting with constitutional authorities, political parties, legal experts, industry bodies and civil society representatives to examine the legal, fiscal and administrative implications of simultaneous elections.

Earlier in March, the Lok Sabha extended the tenure for the committee’s report on the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill, allowing it to submit its findings by the first day of the last week of the Monsoon Session in 2026.

The Constitution Amendment Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2024 before being referred to the Joint Committee of both Houses for further examination.

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