Panel on ‘one poll’ to seek views of parties
A panel led by Ram Nath Kovind will write to political parties, giving them three months to offer their views on ‘one poll’
The Ram Nath Kovind-led panel looking at the idea of holding assembly and national elections simultaneously across the country will write to political parties, giving them three months to offer their views, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.
The panel has sought a detailed road map to synchronise assembly and national elections by 2029, so that voters do not have to cast their ballot multiple times. The 22nd Law Commission, which has backed the idea in principle, will submit a report to the panel in the coming weeks, the people cited above said.
“The committee has sought details from the Law Commission in order to align assembly elections and national elections, since the terms of different assemblies will come to a close on non-aligned dates,” a person familiar with the developments said on the condition of anonymity.
Opposition parties have opposed the move stating that holding simultaneous polls would inevitably help the incumbent government. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on September 3 condemned the idea of ‘One Nation, One Election’, calling it an attack on India.
On Wednesday, the panel held its second meeting to discuss the proposal mooted for conducting concurrent elections to reduce the effort made by voters and the burden on the public exchequer. A detailed presentation by the 22nd Law Commission chairperson Rituraj Awasthi was made to the eight-member panel. HT reached out to the Law Commission but did not a receive a response till the time of going to press.
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The panel will invite political parties on a mutually agreed date to hear their suggestions on the matter. “The committee has already taken under consideration the proposal of a common electoral roll, an idea being explored by the Law Commission as well,” a second person said. “The committee will continue its deliberations on the matter as it waits for the commission to submit its report on the matter.”
The discussion on ‘One Nation, One Election’ started during a special Parliament session from September 18 to 22. Historically, India had simultaneous elections for state assemblies and Lok Sabha until changes in electoral schedules in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Prime Minister Modi has advocated for simultaneous elections, a sentiment echoed by President Kovind in 2017. The Law Commission of India also supported the idea in 2018, citing the burden of frequent elections and the need for a workable constitutional formula.
