{
  "id": 3066051,
  "title": "Proposal to hold joint polls flawed, undermines basic structure of Constitution, says Chidambaram",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/proposal-to-hold-joint-polls-flawed-undermines-basic-structure-of-3066051",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-24T16:33:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express - India",
    "slug": "the-indian-express-india",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/india/proposal-joint-polls-flawed-undermines-basic-constitution-chidambaram-10847830/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Union Minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram criticized the proposal for holding simultaneous elections, stating it violated the basic structure of the Constitution, particularly the principles of parliamentary democracy. The proposal, which aims to sync Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections, was discussed during a joint committee meeting of the Parliament, chaired by BJP MP P P Chaudhary. Chidambaram argued that curtailing a legislature's five-year term directly undermines the Constitution. While some members of the committee opposed the proposal, claiming it grants excessive power to the Election Commission of India, the committee chairperson emphasized that the discussion was healthy and academic, with all members working for the national interest to create the best possible framework for One Nation, One Election. The Bills on simultaneous polls were introduced in December 2024 and were referred to the joint committee for examination.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal is ‘unconstitutional’: Chidambaram to parliament panel",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/one-nation-one-election-proposal-is-unconstitutional-chidambaram-to",
        "published": "2026-08-24T13:33:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Proposal to hold joint polls flawed, undermines basic structure of Constitution, says Chidambaram",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/proposal-to-hold-joint-polls-flawed-undermines-basic-structure-of",
        "published": "2026-08-24T16:33:47.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}