On Thursday, the committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind presented a comprehensive report on 'One Nation One Election (ONOE)' to President Droupadi Murmu, during a meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The report, spanning 18,626 pages, is the result of comprehensive consultations with stakeholders, experts, and 191 days of research since the establishment of the committee on September 2, 2023.
Former President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind who heads High-Level Committee (HLC) on 'One Nation, One Election' presented the report on simultaneous elections in the country to President Droupadi Murmu along with members of the HLC including Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah,… pic.twitter.com/wqlPZ3n0FV— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 14, 2024
What does the Report suggests?
Simultaneous Elections
The panel suggested that the Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections be held simultaneously, and within 100 days of its completion, panchayat and municipal elections be conducted.
The committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind stated in its report that "the committee is of unanimous opinion that simultaneous polls should be held."
According to the panel, simultaneous polls will strengthen the "foundations of democratic rubric," promote social cohesion and development, and aid in realising the goals of "India, that is Bharat."
The committee also suggested introducing Article 324A to allow panchayat and municipal elections to be held concurrently with the House of People and State Legislative Assemblies' general elections.
Voter Ids
The panel recommended that the Election Commission of India create voter ID cards and a unified electoral roll in coordination with state election authorities.
It stated that voter lists are covered by Article 325, which may be appropriately amended for the purpose. Currently, state election commissions oversee local body elections for municipalities and panchayats, while the ECI is in charge of Lok Sabha and assembly elections.
Fresh Elections
The committee recommended that fresh elections could be held to constitute a new Lok Sabha in the event of a hung House or a no-confidence motion, or any such event.
Where fresh elections are held for the House of the People (Lok Sabha), the tenure of the House will be “only for the unexpired (remaining) term of the immediately preceding full term of the House”, it said.
When fresh elections are held for state legislative assemblies, then such new assemblies — unless sooner dissolved — shall continue up to the end of the full term of the Lok Sabha.
To bring into force such a mechanism, Article 83 (duration of Houses of Parliament) and Article 172 (duration of state legislatures) need to be amended, the committee said.
Constitutional Amendments
The panel recommended several constitutional amendments, most of which will not need ratification by states. “Now, several elections are being held every year. This casts a huge burden on the government, businesses, workers, courts, political parties, candidates contesting elections, and civil society at large,” the panel said.
It said the government must develop a “legally tenable mechanism” to restore the cycle of simultaneous elections.
An official statement said the committee crafted its recommendations in such a way that they are in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution and would require bare minimum amendments to the Constitution.
Kovind led Committee
The committee involves Union Home Minister Amit Shah, former Rajya Sabha Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, former chairman of the finance commission NK Singh, former Lok Sabha Secretary General Subhash Kashyap, and senior advocate Harish Salve, the panel is led by Ram Nath Kovind.
The Committee was established on September 2, 2023, with the responsibility of analysing and recommending holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, municipalities, and panchayats. The committee was assigned the responsibility of analysing and suggesting potential solutions related to concurrent elections in the event of a hung house, no-confidence motion, defection, or any similar occurrence.
Special invitee to the panel was Arjun Ram Meghwal, the Minister of Law. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, declared that the entire exercise was a "eye wash" because the panel recommended simultaneous polls even before the consultation process began. As a result, he chose to withdraw from the panel.
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