One nation, one election: The Ram Nath Kovind panel’s main recommendations in its report

One nation, one election: The Ram Nath Kovind panel’s main recommendations in its report

On Thursday, a high-level committee led by former president Ram Nath Kovind turned in its report on whether it would be possible to hold nationwide “one nation, one election”—simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local authorities. According to a release, the panel delivered the 18,626-page report to President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. In the presence of every committee member, including Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) leader Gulam Nabi Azad, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Kovind committee submitted its findings.

The representatives of many political parties, including the BJP, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, CPI, CPI (M), AIMIM, RPI, Apna Dal, etc., were also met and engaged with by the High-Level Committee recently. These parties’ representatives also gave the committee written versions of their recommendations. The report further stated that since its constitution on September 2, 2023, it has undergone comprehensive consultations with stakeholders, experts, and research lasting 191 days.

‘One nation, one poll’: Key takeaways from the Kovind panel’s report

Replacing the cycle of simultaneous elections, which was interrupted following India’s early decades of independence, was emphasized by the committee. They observed that the government, corporations, labor unions, courts, political parties, candidates, and civil society all bear a heavy burden from the annual conduct of many elections. Two-step procedure: The committee suggested conducting simultaneous elections in two stages. Elections to the State Legislative Assemblies and the House of the People should be coordinated as the first phase. The elections for state legislative assemblies and the House of Representatives should be coordinated with the elections for municipalities and panchayats in the second step.

Notification from the President: According to the committee’s recommendation, the President of India should announce the date of the House of People’s first session following a general election as the day that elections would be synchronized. State legislative assemblies’ terms should expire with the next general elections to the House of People following the appointed date, according to the committee’s recommendation. Implementation group: To supervise the carrying out of the suggestions, an implementation group ought to be established.

Constitutional amendments: Several changes were proposed to the Constitution, such as adding Article 324A, which would allow for simultaneous elections in municipalities and panchayats, and changing Article 325, which would establish a single electoral roll and single voter’s photo identity card. The States would have to ratify these amendments. Managing emergencies: New elections should be conducted to form the new House in the case of a hung House, a no-confidence motion, or any other similar circumstance. To make essential revisions to the Constitution, bills for constitutional amendments would be submitted and not need state ratification.

Also Read: Amit Shah Counters ‘Anti-Muslim’ Law Claims by Foreign Media: ‘Ask Them…

Planning for logistics: The Election Commission of India and State Election Commissions should prepare plans and budgets ahead of time for logistical arrangements, such as the purchase of equipment like electronic voting machines and video voter assistance teams, as well as the deployment of poll workers and security officers. Single electoral roll and identity card: Amendments to Article 325 are suggested to facilitate the establishment of a single electoral roll and single elector’s photo identity card, subject to state ratification.