Chaired by Ram Nath Kovind, the 'One Nation, One Election' committee submitted its landmark recommendations to President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday, pitching for constitutional amendments to facilitate concurrent elections. The 18,626-page report envisions an integrated election mechanism.
The high-level committee was established on September 2 last year and completed the report in 191 days. They had detailed consultations with election stakeholders before presenting it to the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Implement Lok Sabha and State Assemblies Elections in Phase One
The proposal suggests initiating simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, with local bodies and Panchayats to follow within 100 days, to streamline and synergize the electoral process.
Introducing Article 324A for a Revolutionary Shift in Elections
The committee's unanimous view, based on parties' and stakeholders' inputs, is that synchronized elections would fundamentally change the election process and governance. Article 324A is suggested to enable elections across different tiers of government.
The Case for a Unified Voter List
Article 325 is also recommended for amendment to establish a single, consolidated voter list and voter photo ID system, to be prepared by the Election Commission with consultative support from State Election Commissions.
If an Interim Government Falls, What Next?
The committee recommends a no-confidence vote in cases of hung assemblies. New elections can be held, ensuring that any consequent assembly is not dissolved before the Lok Sabha term ends.
Additional Recommendations by the Committee...
- A constitutional amendment bill is to be introduced in Parliament to amend Articles 83 and 172, dispensing with the need for state ratification.
- Yearly elections have had adverse effects on the economy, politics, and society since the early years of India's independence. The committee urges the government to develop a sustainable legal mechanism to reinstate the cycle of concurrent elections.
Panel Includes Prominent Members like Home Minister Amit Shah
The panel led by Ram Nath Kovind includes influential figures like Home Minister Amit Shah, former Vice-President of Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Chairman of the Finance Commission NK Singh, ex-Secretary-General of Lok Sabha Subhash Kashyap, and senior advocate Harish Salve.
