‘One Nation, One Election’: Here are Kovind panel’s recommendations on simultaneous polls
The Union Cabinet has approved the Ram Nath Kovind committee report on ‘One Nation, One Election’, proposing simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies in a phased manner.
The high-level committee, led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, submitted its 18,626-page report to President Droupadi Murmu on March 14.
The report recommends simultaneous elections — first for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, followed by synchronised rural and urban local body polls within 100 days. The committee suggested the introduction of Article 324A to enable these simultaneous elections.
18 Constitutional Amendments
Necessary amendments to various provisions of the Constitution and laws to facilitate three-tier simultaneous polls.
No state ratification required
The panel suggested adding a new provision — Article 82A — to the Constitution which would override Article 83 (duration of Houses of Parliament) and Article 172 (duration of State Legislatures) in order to synchronise elections. Amendments do not require ratification by states.
Single electoral roll
Amend Article 325 to enable the Election Commission of India to prepare a single electoral roll and elector’s photo identity card.
Logistical arrangements
The Election Commission of India and state election commissions to work out requirements for EVMs, VVPATs, polling personnel, and security forces.
Appointed date
The panel recommended that “the amendments should provide for designating an appointed date (day of the first meeting of the newly constituted House of the People) after which the conduct of elections to the state legislative assemblies will take place.”
If House dissolved, fresh polls for new House
“Where any state legislative assembly is dissolved on account of no-confidence motion, a hung House, or any other event, fresh elections will be held for such a new House with its tenure ending with that of the House of the People,” it said.
“Full term” and “unexpired period”
The Constitutional amendment would introduce the concepts of a “full term” and an “unexpired period” where the House or an Assembly is dissolved sooner than its “full term”, there would be a “mid-term” election. The election held after the expiry of five years would be considered a “general election”.
Response from Political Parties
Out of 47 responding parties, 32 favoured simultaneous elections, while 80 per cent of 21,558 responses from individuals and organisations supported the proposal.
Composition of Committee
Set up on September 2 last year, the committee headed by Kovind included Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah, former Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, noted jurist Harish Salve, former Finance Commission Chairman NK Singh, former Lok Sabha Secretary General and constitutional expert Subhash C Kashyap and former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Sanjay Kothari. Minister of State for Law (Independent Charge) Arjun Ram Meghwal was a special invitee while Niten Chandra, Secretary Department of Legal Affairs, was the committee secretary.
Committee worked for 191 days
The panel, which worked on the subject for 191 days, had invited suggestions, viewpoints and comments from registered political parties and interacted with experts on law such as former chief justices of India Ranjan Gogoi, SA Bobde and UU Lalit, former chief justices of major high courts, former chief election commissioners and state election commissioners, and expert bodies such as the Law Commission and Election Commission.
BCI, industry bodies also placed their points of view
Other stakeholders such as the Bar Council of India (BCI) and business organisations like Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) were also given an opportunity to place their points of view. Eminent economists of the country also interacted with the committee.
The key benefits derived from the recommendations is that it will reduce disruptions to governance and policy paralysis, help businesses maintain production cycles and reduce wage losses and travel costs for migrant workers.
