India Pushes Simultaneous Elections While Madhya Pradesh Unveils Massive ₹4.38 Lakh‑Crore Budget

Updated 2026-02-21 03:05:59+00:00 (7 articles)

Simultaneous Election Bill Advances Toward 2028 Implementation Union Minister Chaudhary ties a one‑nation‑one‑election schedule to the “Viksit Bharat” 2047 vision, arguing that synchronising Lok Sabha and state polls will eliminate governance disruption and accelerate development [1]. The Joint Parliamentary Committee has convened 16 times, hearing six former chief justices, and flags the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill’s grant of “excessive” powers to the Election Commission as a constitutional infirmity [1]. The bill proposes a fixed “appointed date” for future polls, with the first synchronized election slated for May 30 2029 and all state assemblies aligning by 2034, potentially limiting no‑confidence motions in the final year [1].

Economic Impact of Frequent Elections Quantified An expert paper submitted to the Ram Nath Kovind Committee estimates that holding elections separately costs India roughly 1.6 % of GDP, equivalent to about ₹7 lakh crore, a sum that could otherwise fund housing, infrastructure and other development projects [1]. Former IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath underscores the macro‑economic drag of recurring election expenditures [1]. Proponents argue that synchronising elections would reclaim this fiscal loss and redirect it to growth‑oriented spending [1].

Madhya Pradesh Presents Record‑Size 2026‑27 Budget On February 18 2026, Finance Minister Jagdish Devda tabled a ₹4,38,317 crore budget for the state, marking the largest fiscal plan in its history [2]. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav described the budget as historic and welfare‑focused, highlighting allocations for the poor, youth, farmers, women and expanded industrial activity [2]. The plan is presented as a step‑by‑step model for progress, aiming to boost the state’s economic trajectory [2].

Opposition Flags Debt Risks in Madhya Pradesh Budget Congress legislators disrupted the budget session, accusing the government of mounting debt and demanding scrutiny of fiscal policies [2]. Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar staged a protest with empty piggy banks before Mahatma Gandhi’s statue, denouncing the borrowing of ₹5,600 crore taken just before the session [2]. Singhar claimed the administration is “living on a fortune,” alleging that public tax money is being used to create “illusions” of development rather than delivering genuine fiscal responsibility [2].

Federal Fiscal Strain Highlights Need for Election Reform The combined cost of unsynchronised elections (≈₹7 lakh crore) and state‑level borrowing pressures, as illustrated by Madhya Pradesh’s ₹5,600 crore debt addition, intensify calls for the one‑nation‑one‑election reform to alleviate fiscal burdens [1][2]. Critics, however, warn that the proposed constitutional amendment may breach India’s basic structure and federal balance, especially Section 82A(5) granting the Election Commission discretionary authority [1]. Proponents maintain that logistical feasibility and cross‑party support make the reform both administratively manageable and economically essential [1].

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Timeline

Dec 1993 – The Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) launches, permitting each MP to recommend up to ₹5 crore annually for durable local projects, establishing a constituency‑development funding mechanism that later becomes a flashpoint in inter‑party disputes [3].

2019‑2024 – During the 17th Lok Sabha, ₹4,837.87 crore is allocated to MPLADS, of which ₹3,639.53 crore (75.23 %) is spent on 41,143 works, setting a high‑utilisation benchmark that shapes later debates on fund efficiency [3].

2023 – MPLADS guidelines are amended to allow MPs to allocate up to ₹50 lakh per year outside their own constituency or state and up to ₹1 crore for severe calamities, providing a legal basis for cross‑state spending claims that surface in 2026 controversies [3].

FY 2024‑25 (ended Mar 2025) – The BJP receives ₹6,088 crore in donations—nearly twelve times the Congress’s ₹522 crore—highlighting a widening financial gap between the two major parties ahead of upcoming elections [5].

Dec 15, 2025 – The Rajya Sabha resumes debate on electoral reforms; AAP MP Sandeep Kumar Pathak demands a level playing field in party funding, while Congress MP Digvijaya Singh challenges Amit Shah’s RSS affiliation, underscoring growing scrutiny of political financing and institutional transparency [7].

Dec 15, 2025 – The government proposes renaming MGNREGA to “Pujya Bapu Gramin Rozgar Yojana,” signalling a symbolic rebranding of the flagship employment scheme amid broader policy reforms [7].

Dec 22, 2025 – Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi declares, “All MPs and MLAs take commissions,” admits he has contributed commission money to the party fund, and announces a plan to contest 100 seats in the next Assembly election, reflecting intra‑NDA tensions and corruption narratives [6].

Dec 22, 2025 – Despite record‑high donations, the BJP’s audit report for FY 2024‑25 remains unavailable on the Election Commission website, raising questions about compliance and transparency [5].

Dec 28, 2025 – Congress opens applications for Greater Bengaluru Authority elections, setting a ₹50,000 fee (₹25,000 for SC/ST, later reduced to ₹25,000 for women) and a Jan 15, 2026 deadline; the collected fees are earmarked for an ₹80 crore construction fund for party infrastructure, linking fundraising to electoral preparation [4].

Dec 28, 2025 – Shivakumar warns that taluk and zilla panchayat elections could be held within two to three months after reservation issues are settled, indicating a rapid rollout of local polls that could affect party mobilisation ahead of state elections [4].

Feb 3, 2026 – The BJP accuses three Rajasthan MPs of misusing MPLADS funds for projects in Haryana, while the accused MPs cite the 2023 cross‑state allocation rules as justification, intensifying a partisan battle over the legitimacy of constituency‑development spending [3].

Feb 3, 2026 – Congress MP Brijendra Singh Ola defends the allocations, stating “the guidelines allow up to ₹50 lakh per year outside the constituency,” and counters BJP claims by highlighting similar usage by BJP MPs, illustrating the politicisation of MPLADS oversight [3].

Feb 18, 2026 – Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Jagdish Devda presents a ₹4,38,317 crore budget for 2026‑27; Chief Minister Mohan Yadav calls it “historic and welfare‑focused,” while opposition leader Umang Singhar protests with empty piggy banks, accusing the government of “living on a fortune” and unsustainable borrowing of ₹5,600 crore [2].

Feb 21, 2026 – Union Minister Chaudhary advances the “one‑nation‑one‑election” proposal, linking synchronized Lok Sabha and state polls to the 2047 “Viksit Bharat” development goal and citing a study that frequent elections cost 1.6 % of GDP (≈₹7 lakh crore); former IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath warns of the macro‑economic burden of unscheduled polls [1].

2028 (planned) – The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, if enacted, sets a fixed “appointed date” for elections, with the first Parliament sitting slated for May 30, 2029 and all state assemblies expected to align by 2034, aiming to reduce election‑related disruptions and shorten final‑year no‑confidence motions [1].

Early 2026 (projected) – Greater Bengaluru Authority elections are expected to be held after the Jan 15 2026 application deadline, with the party’s ₹80 crore construction fund ready to support campaign infrastructure, potentially influencing urban political dynamics [4].

Early 2026 (projected) – Panchayat elections in Karnataka are anticipated within two to three months of the Dec 2025 announcement, creating a near‑term electoral battleground for regional parties and testing Congress’s mobilisation strategy [4].

2026 (next Assembly election, projected) – Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) aims to field candidates in 100 seats, signalling a possible split from the NDA if its demands are unmet, which could reshape coalition calculations in the upcoming state polls [6].

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