Alternate to One Nation One Poll is to combine all elections to be held in a year together says EC

Combining all elections within a period year would be a better alternative to One Nation One Poll, the Election Commission said. The EC was asked by the Law Commission, what an alternative to One National One Poll could be.

The commission had framed 20 questions and asked the EC if an alternative to conducting elections due in a year at a specified and fixed time in the year is more viable than totally overhauling the existing system.

Under the existing laws, the EC is permitted to conduct elections at a chosen time, six months before the end of a legislative assembly or Parliament. Recently the EC had suggested that if they were given the power to conduct elections a year before the end of an assembly term, they would be able to conduct all polls scheduled in a year at one specific time. The EC however was not in favour of fixing dates in advance.

Several meetings have been held in this regard and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in favour of a One Nation One Poll concept. Many argue that this concept would greatly reduce the burden on the exchequer.

In another development, the EC had also told the Supreme Court that it wants to bar the concept of a two seat concept. The EC said that many politicians opt for a second seat as a safe one. However if they are elected in both seats, they give one up which forces a by-election. If this practise is stopped it would reduce the burden on the exchequer the poll body had also said.