High-level committee meeting regarding ‘One Nation One Election’

Debjit Mukherjee: Former President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday headed the high-level committee meeting attended by Law Commission chairperson Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and other members on the issue of One Nation One Election. A roadmap for holding simultaneous elections in the country was discussed in the meeting.

Earlier the panel which sought views from political parties has further asked them to elaborate on their thoughts regarding holding elections across the country at once.

The committee asked the political parties to hold a discussion with them on a “mutually agreed date”, sources said.

The Law Commission is working to find a solution to synchronise all assembly polls by extending or reducing their present tenure so that elections in all the states can be held simultaneously with Lok Sabha elections in 2029.

The law panel is devising a mechanism to ensure a common electoral roll for Lok Sabha, assemblies and local bodies to reduce cost and use of manpower for undertaking an almost identical exercise which is carried out now by the Election Commission and various state election commissions.

For synchronising various assembly polls to ensure both state and Lok Sabha elections are held together from 2029 onwards, the commission may suggest reducing or enhancing the tenure of legislative assemblies.