The JPC was formed after the lower and upper houses referred the bill — along with a related territorial-laws amendment — to a special panel. The committee comprises 39 members, with 27 drawn from the lower house and 12 from the upper house. The committee is chaired by P. P. Chaudhary, a seasoned parliamentarian and former minister of state for law and justice.
Panel discussions so far have included consultations with legal experts and former judges, aimed at evaluating how to integrate a simultaneous election framework without disrupting constitutional safeguards or undermining election-time administrative neutrality. The decision to summon the head of the election commission underscores the seriousness with which the committee is approaching institutional oversight and electoral integrity concerns.
The concept of synchronised national and state elections is not new. Between 1951 and 1967, polls for the national parliament and state assemblies were held together. However the system was abandoned as states were reorganised and assemblies dissolved at different times. The legislation under examination seeks to re-instill that cycle through constitutional amendment and related electoral reforms.
Chaudhary has indicated that practical implementation of the simultaneous election model may extend only after 2034, citing the complexity of aligning diverse electoral cycles and the need for comprehensive logistical, legal and political consensus.
Members of the JPC represent a broad cross-section of political parties, reflecting the high-stakes nature of the reform. Observers expect the December hearing with the election commission to set the tone for final recommendations — shaping whether India moves toward a unified electoral calendar or opts to retain its existing staggered system.