'One Nation, One Poll' Report Submitted Today: Kovind Panel Recommends Simultaneous Elections

The high-level committee on conducting simultaneous polls submitted its report on 'one nation, one election' to President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday.

The committee headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind submitted the report running into 18,000 pages. It has proposed a three-tier simultaneous election covering panchayats, assemblies, and Parliament. In situations where the assembly results in a deadlock, the committee suggests holding new elections and shortening the term of office.

The committee proposed that the Election Commission of India collaborate with state election authorities to create a unified electoral roll and issue voter ID cards. Additionally, it suggested various constitutional amendments, the majority of which won't require state ratification. Currently, the ECI oversees Lok Sabha and assembly elections, while municipal and panchayat polls are under the purview of state election commissions.

Sources had told The Indian Express earlier that the committee discussed the German model of a constructive vote of no-confidence. This model allows a no-confidence motion against the current officeholder only if there's a vote of confidence in a successor. However, the committee opted not to endorse this model, deeming it inconsistent with the principles of Indian democracy.

A report in PTI had claimed that the committee might suggest changes to at least five articles of the Constitution to allow for simultaneous elections nationwide.

Formed in September last year, the purpose of the committee is to assess and propose recommendations for conducting simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, municipalities, and panchayats within the existing constitutional framework.

The committee includes members such as Home Minister Amit Shah, former Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Chairman of the Finance Commission N K Singh, former Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha Subhash Kashyap, and senior advocate Harish Salve.

Although the Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, was initially part of the committee, he declined, criticizing it as merely for show. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has been invited as a special participant in the panel's discussions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a vocal advocate for holding Lok Sabha and state assembly elections simultaneously. The decision to assign Kovind to look into this matter highlights the government's commitment, especially with several elections on the horizon.