Simultaneous elections: Kovind committee writes to EC

The committee had earlier this month written to former Chief Election Commissioners seeking their views on the matter, and also opened a window for the public to send in suggestions from January 5 to January 15.

Set up in September 2023 by the Union Law Ministry, the committee was tasked with suggesting ways to hold simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and panchayats. (Express Archives)

The One Nation One Election committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind has written to the Election Commission of India asking for a meeting to discuss holding simultaneous elections, The Indian Express has learnt.

The committee had earlier this month written to former Chief Election Commissioners seeking their views on the matter, and also opened a window for the public to send in suggestions from January 5 to January 15. Now, the high-level committee is learnt to have reached out to the Election Commission and suggested holding a meeting with the panel as well. The committee will also be reaching out to other groups, including the Bar Council of India, it is learnt.

Set up in September 2023 by the Union Law Ministry, the committee was tasked with suggesting ways to hold simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and panchayats. So far the committee has had two meetings.

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On January 5, the committee had issued a public notice inviting suggestions “for making appropriate changes in the existing legal administrative framework to enable simultaneous elections in the country”. The panel had also written to political parties in October 2023, asking them for their views.

The Trinamool Congress has come out against the move, with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee writing to the committee saying the idea was unacceptable. She said one nation one election would mean a move to a presidential form of government. The Communist Part of India (Marxist), too, has rejected the idea, saying it was against the letter and spirit of the Constitution.

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