Last Updated: September 23, 2023, 08:38 IST
Ram Nath Kovind is the head of the high-level committee on ‘one nation, one election.’ (File: PTI)
One Nation, One Election Meeting Live Updates: Panel members will give recommendations on how situations like a hung assembly or adoption of a no-confidence motion will be tackled
The first official meeting of the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Committee is all set to be conducted on Saturday under the chairmanship of former President Ram Nath Kovind. In this highly-anticipated meet-up, panel members are likely to discuss and make recommendations for carrying out simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha, state assemblies, municipalities, and panchayats.
In the meeting, the panel will examine various scenarios for the simultaneous polling and make recommendations on how situations like a hung assembly or adoption of a no-confidence motion will be tackled.
The ‘One Nation, One Election’ committee will also suggest a framework and a time limit within which the elections can be carried out. The panel will also discuss how to go about holding consultations with stakeholders, research on the subject, and preparation of working papers.
Committee President Kovind during the convocation ceremony of a private university informed the media about the meeting.
The meeting comes after the Narendra Modi-led BJP government constituted a committee headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind.
Currently, the Election Commission of India (ECI) conducts the elections for state assemblies as well as Lok Sabha (Parliament) as separate events. Every state holds its elections every five years, similar to the Lok Sabha, however, most of the states have their own electoral cycle.
Who all are members of One Nation, One Election Committee
Members of the ‘One Nation, One Election’ include Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, former leader of the opposition Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, former chairman of 15th Finance Commission NK Singh, former Lok Sabha general secretary Subash Kashyap, senior advocate Harish Salve, former chief vigilance commissioner Sanjay Kothari, and Minister of state (law) Arjun Ram Meghwal.
What is ‘One Nation, One Election’
The idea of ‘One Nation, One Election’ refers to holding simultaneous elections across the country, which means, that the polls for Lok Sabha and state assemblies will be held together.
The committee’s formation over ‘One Nation, One Election’ comes at a time when five states- including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are set to hold assembly elections in November-December.