The high-level committee on ‘One Nation, One Election’, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, submitted its report to President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday.
The committee was set up in September 2023 to examine and make recommendations for holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, state Assemblies and local bodies.
It has recommended a two-step approach, suggesting that elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies be conducted initially, followed by elections to municipalities and panchayats within 100 days thereafter.
The Committee has recommended that if a state assembly is dissolved due to a no-confidence motion or in the case of a hung House, fresh elections may be held for the remaining term, aligning with that of the Lok Sabha.
The panel has also recommended the preparation of a single electoral roll and electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) by the Election Commission of India, in consultation with the State Election Commissions.
The 18,626-page report is the outcome of extensive consultations with stakeholders, experts, and research conducted over a span of 191 days.
The committee submitted its report in the presence of all its members: Union Home Minister Amit Shah; former Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad; former chairman of the 15th Finance Commission NK Singh; former Secretary General of Lok Sabha Subhash C Kashyap; Senior Advocate Harish Salve; and former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Sanjay Kothari. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal was a special invitee, while Dr Niten Chandra served as the secretary of the panel.
The committee held extensive consultations to gather views from different stakeholders. Forty-seven political parties submitted their suggestions, with 32 expressing support for simultaneous elections.
A total of 21,558 responses were received from citizens across the country, with 80 per cent of the respondents supporting simultaneous elections.
Overwhelming support for holding simultaneous elections will spur the development process and social cohesion, deepen the foundations of our democratic rubric, and realise the aspirations of India, that is Bharat, the report states.
(With inputs from ANI)