Committee Set Up To Explore 'One Nation One Election' Possibility

New Delhi, Sept 1: The Narendra Modi led BJP Government at the Centre is reported to have constituted a panel headed by former President Ramnath Kovind to explore the possibility of holding elections to the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies together.

 Speculations about ‘one nation one election’ gained traction since the announcement was made on Thursday to convene a special session of Parliament on September 18. While no statement was made about the agenda during the session, talks about the possible introduction of the ‘one natin one election’ bill took centre stage since the time of the announcement.

Many political observers are predicting that the special session could take up the’one nation one election bill’, even though the issue still remains in the firmament of conjectures.

The Government also has made no official announcement about the setting up of the committee, its composition or the terms and reference.

Speculation is also rife that the Centre might bring ahead the Lok Sabha polls and hold it alongside the assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram after passenger of the legislation in Parliament.  The Bill, however, need to cover more ground as constitutional amendment of this magnitude needs the ratification of the states as well.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly pitched for ‘one nation one election’, contending that it will save money and ensure elections is larger voter turnout. Besides, such a measure will maintain continuity of the governance both in the Centre and in the states. Holding elections in different states in different times halts programme implementation because model code of conduct comes into play.

The Law Commission has already examined the proposal favorably while the Election Commission of India have said they are prepared to hold elections simultaneously.