The committee will be headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind.
New Delhi:
Whether India can have a "one nation, one election" system, or simultaneous national and state elections countrywide, will be examined by a new committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, sources said today, signalling a big step forward on the long-debated proposal discussed by multiple panels.
The move comes a day after the Centre announced a special session of the parliament from September 18 to 22, without revealing the agenda. The surprise announcement was followed by intense speculation that a bill on 'one nation, one election' would be tabled during the session, but no one from the government has confirmed this.
One nation, one election' refers to holding the Lok Sabha and state assembly polls simultaneously across the country, like it was in the first few rounds of elections in India. The BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have spoken on the issue on several occasions, and it was also a part of the party's manifesto for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
Conducting polls simultaneously was the norm in India until 1967 and four elections were held this way. The practice stopped after 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 1970 and mid-term elections had been held in 1971.
In its 2014 Lok Sabha Election Manifesto, the BJP had promised to evolve a method for holding the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections simultaneously.
Page 14 of the manifesto had said, "The BJP is committed to initiate electoral reforms to eliminate criminals. The BJP will seek, through consultation with other parties, to evolve a method of holding Assembly and Lok Sabha elections simultaneously. Apart from reducing election expenses for both political parties and Government, this will ensure certain stability for State Governments. We will also look at revising expenditure limits realistically."
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