In a significant move aimed at streamlining India’s electoral process, the Central Government has officially constituted an eight-member high-level committee to assess the feasibility of conducting synchronized elections for the Lok Sabha, state Assemblies, municipalities, and panchayats across the nation. This development comes as a response to the longstanding debate surrounding the “One Nation, One Poll” concept.
Former President Ram Nath Kovind, who is appointed as the chairman of this influential committee, was briefed by senior officials from the Law Ministry on Sunday, marking the panel’s initial steps towards its deliberations. Law Secretary Niten Chandra, who serves as the secretary to the committee, along with Legislative Secretary Reeta Vasishta and other key officials, engaged with Kovind to garner insights into his vision for the committee’s mandate.
The committee comprises eminent figures from various fields, including Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah, Congress Member of Parliament Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, former Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, prominent jurist Harish Salve, former Finance Commission Chairman NK Singh, former Lok Sabha Secretary General and constitutional expert Subhash C Kashyap, and former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Sanjay Kothari. Minister of State for Law (Independent Charge) Arjun Ram Meghwal will attend the committee meetings as a special invitee.
The committee’s primary task is to initiate its work promptly and provide recommendations at the earliest. It has been entrusted with a multi-faceted mandate, which includes a comprehensive examination of the possibility of holding simultaneous elections for various tiers of governance. This examination will be conducted while considering the current constitutional framework, statutory provisions, and legal frameworks.
Specifically, the committee is tasked with reviewing and recommending potential amendments to the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act of 1950, the Representation of the People Act of 1951, and associated regulations that may need adjustments to facilitate synchronized elections. Moreover, it will assess whether these constitutional amendments would necessitate ratification by the states.
The committee will also delve into the logistical aspects and manpower requirements, including the availability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs), essential for executing simultaneous elections across the country.
A crucial aspect of the committee’s work is to analyze and propose potential solutions in the event of simultaneous elections leading to a hung parliament, the adoption of a no-confidence motion, defections, or any other unforeseen scenarios that may arise during the electoral process.
The initiative for synchronized elections, commonly referred to as “One Nation, One Poll,” aims to address the staggering costs incurred due to frequent and asynchronous elections in India. It also intends to reduce the diversion of security forces and election officials from their primary responsibilities for extended periods, as has been the case with the current electoral schedule.
However, the concept has not been without its share of criticisms and opposition. Rahul Gandhi, a prominent leader of the Congress party, expressed concerns, stating, “India, that is Bharat, is a union of states. The idea of ‘one nation, one election’ is an attack on the union of all states.”
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The Chenab Times News Desk
