Former President Ram Nath Kovind to chair first meeting of One Nation, One Election committee today

Former President Ram Nath Kovind will chair the first official meeting of the One Nation One Election Committee today in New Delhi. Panel members that include the names of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, former Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Finance Commission Chairman N K Singh, former Lok Sabha Secretary General Subhash C Kashyap, senior advocate Harish Salve, and former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Sanjay Kothari, will most likely discuss the feasibility of simultaneous elections and recommend ways to tackle situations like a hung assembly or adoption of a no-confidence motion. Apart from this, the committee will suggest a framework and a time limit around which the elections can be conducted in the country. Last month, the central government reinforced its push for ‘One Nation, One Election’ by constituting a panel to explore its feasibility in India. If the government goes ahead with the plan, India will see simultaneous polls across states. The proposal states that elections for Lok Sabha and all state assemblies should be held at the same time.

Political strategist Prashant Kishor had said that the idea of ‘One Nation, One Election’ can be in the “interest of India” provided that it is done with “correct intentions.” “If this is done with the correct intentions and there be a transition phase of 4-5 years, then it is in the interest of the country. This was once in effect in the country for 17-18 years,” Kishor said.