One Nation, One Poll refers to holding simultaneous polls across the country
New Delhi:
The high-level committee headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind today submitted its report on ‘one nation, one election’.
The report was submitted to President Droupadi Murmu this morning.
The panel in its report – which has been accessed by NDTV – favoured holding simultaneous polls across the country. “The Committee is of unanimous opinion that simultaneous polls should be held,” the report said.
At first, Lok Sabha elections and state polls should be held simultaneously followed by synchronised local body polls within 100 days, the panel recommended.
“Simultaneous elections will transform electoral process and governance. The concept can help realise aspirations of ‘India, that is Bharat’, the panel said.
It said simultaneous polls will significantly enhance transparency, inclusivity, ease and confidence of voters.
In India, the general elections to elect the members of Parliament and state assembly polls are held separately when the tenure of the incumbent government comes to an end or it gets dissolved for some reason.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken on the need for ‘One Nation, One Election’ on several occasions, and it was also a part of the party’s manifesto for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
The other members of the panel led by Mr Kovind are – Home Minister Amit Shah, former leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, former finance commission chairman N K Singh, former Lok Sabha secretary general Subhash Kashyap and senior advocate Harish Salve.
The committee was tasked to analyse and recommend possible solutions linked to simultaneous elections if there is a hung house, no-confidence motion, defection, or any such other event.
A single electoral roll and identity card for voters valid for the national, state, civic body and panchayat elections was also explored, officials said.
