One Nation One Election: What Are the Recommendations of High-Level Panel on Simultaneous Polls to Lok Sabha and State Assemblies?

Mumbai, September 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union Cabinet on Wednesday, September 18, approved a report by former President Ram Nath Kovind’s committee on the “one nation, one election.” The report's approval comes months after the panel submitted its proposal to the government recommending a legally tenable mechanism to restore simultaneous elections.

Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the report found widespread support for simultaneous polls and that the Cabinet approved it unanimously. The report comprises 18,626 pages and is an outcome of extensive consultations with stakeholders, experts and research work of 191 days. The Ram Nath Kovind-led panel was set up on September 2, 2023. Scroll down to read more about the recommendations made by the Ram Nath Kovind panel in the "One Nation, One Election" report. ‘One Nation One Election’ Proposal Gets Union Cabinet’s Approval, Bill Likely To Be Introduced in Parliament’s Winter Session.

Recommendations of High-Level Committee on 'One Nation, One Election'

‘One Nation One Election’ Proposal Gets Union Cabinet’s Approval, Congress Opposes Move

Know What Ram Nath Kovind-Led Panel Recommends in One Nation One Election Report

Implementation of 'One Nation, One Election' in 2 Phases

The Ram Nath Kovind-led panel recommends that "One Nation, One Election" be implemented in two phases. In the first phase, the panel suggests conducting Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections simultaneously. This proposal aims to streamline the electoral process, allowing voters to elect their national and state representatives in a single go.

Following the national and state elections, the second phase will see local body elections, including panchayat and municipality polls, held within 100 days. This phased approach is designed to maintain electoral momentum and efficiency. One Nation, One Election: BJP-Led NDA Government Aims To Implement ‘One Nation, One Poll’ Within Current Term, Say Sources.

Common Electoral Roll for All Elections

To enhance uniformity and reduce errors, the committee suggests creating a common electoral roll for all elections. This would mean voters would use the same list for national, state, and local elections, minimising duplication and inaccuracies in voter registration.

Panel Recommends Initiation of Detailed Discussions Across Country

In an effort to promote transparency and gather diverse perspectives, the panel plans to initiate detailed discussions across the country. These dialogues will involve various stakeholders, providing an opportunity to refine the plan based on public and expert feedback.

Constitution of Implementation Group

The committee also calls for the formation of an implementation group to ensure a smooth transition to the simultaneous election model. This group will oversee the execution of the recommendations, ensuring the proposed changes are effectively implemented.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) kept “One nation, one election” as one of the key promises in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 manifesto. In August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged political parties to help realise the goal, underlining that frequent polls were a hurdle to India’s progress.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 18, 2024 04:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).