One Nation, One Election: First Meeting Of Study Panel To Be Held On September 23

The first meeting of the 'One Nation, One Election' committee will be held on September 23, former President and chairman of the committee Ram Nath Kovind said. The committee was formed by the government in September 2023 to examine the feasibility of holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, municipalities, and panchayats.

The announcement regarding 'One Nation, One Election' was made on August 31, leading to widespread speculation about the agenda for the special session of Parliament. On September 1, the government established a committee for 'One Nation, One Election,' with former President Ram Nath Kovind at its helm. BJP chief JP Nadda also held discussions with the former president at his residence in this regard.

The formation of the committee has intensified speculation about the convening of a special session of Parliament to introduce this legislation.

Since assuming office in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a staunch advocate for the concept of simultaneous elections, encompassing local body polls. He has emphasized the financial burden and disruption to development activities caused by the continuous election cycle.

Ram Nath Kovind shared Modi's perspective and endorsed the idea after becoming President in 2017. During a parliamentary address in 2018, he remarked, "Frequent elections not only place a significant strain on human resources but also hinder the development process due to the implementation of the model code of conduct."

Like Prime Minister Modi, he called for a sustained debate and expressed optimism that all political parties could reach a consensus on this matter.