Panel on ‘One Nation, One Election’ Formed With Ex-Prez Ram Nath Kovind as Head

New Delhi: The Centre set up a panel to study the ‘one nation, one election’ proposal. This committee will be headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind.

This announcement precedes the special session of the Parliament from September 18 to 22. It is being speculated that a bill on ‘one nation, one election’ may be tabled during the session. But no government source has confirmed this.

‘One nation, one election’ refers to holding the Lok Sabha and state assembly polls simultaneously across the country. It was part of the BJP’s manifesto for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

Simultaneous polls were being conducted in India until 1967 and four elections were held this way. The practice got disrupted as some state assemblies were dissolved prematurely in 1968-69. The Lok Sabha was also, for the first time, dissolved a year ahead of schedule in 1971.

It is being advocated that simultaneous Lok Sabha and State Assembly Polls will reduce election expenses for both political parties and Government.