One Nation, One Election: Kovind Chairs First Meet, Panel To Invite Suggestions Of Parties

New Delhi: The high-level committee formed under former president Ram Nath Kovind to explore the feasibility of conducting simultaneous elections held its first meeting on Saturday. Terming the meeting as introductory in nature, officials aware of the details said the roadmap on how to go about the mandate given to the committee was discussed, news agency PTI reported. The panel decided to invite the suggestions of the Law Commission, national and state parties on simultaneous polls, according to PTI.

“Simultaneous polls panel decides to invite recognised national, state parties to seek views on issue of synchronised elections. The panel will also invite Law Commission to make suggestions,” a statement issued by the committee said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, former Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and former Finance Commission chief N K Singh are among the members of the panel. Lok Sabha secretary general Subhash C Kashyap, senior advocate Harish Salve and former chief vigilance commissioner Sanjay Kothari are also part of the committee.

It is to be noted that in order to hold simultaneous assembly and general elections, the panel will examine and recommend certain amendments to the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act and some other laws and rules.

The panel has also been tasked to suggest a framework for simultaneous polls and “specifically suggest the phases and time-frame within which simultaneous elections may be held if they cannot be held in one go,” according to PTI.

The committee also needs to suggest possible solutions to scenarios like a hung House, adoption of a no-confidence motion or any such event. It will also have to recommend “necessary safeguards for ensuring the continuity of the cycle of simultaneous elections and recommend necessary amendments to the Constitution so that the cycle of simultaneous elections is not disturbed”, reported PTI.

The panel will also discuss the issue of logistics as holding simultaneous polls will require additional electronic voting machines (EVMs), paper-trail machines and polling and security personnel.