National Desk, 1st September: The Indian government has established a committee, led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, to investigate the feasibility of implementing ‘One Nation, One Election.’ This initiative aims to synchronize general elections and state assembly elections across the country.
Sources report that the committee’s primary objective is to evaluate the potential legislative requirements for implementing ‘One Nation, One Election.’ Previous assessments of this proposal were conducted by a parliamentary standing committee, the Law Commission, and Niti Ayog, each of which submitted comprehensive reports on the matter.
To advance this proposal, the government has called for a Special Session of Parliament scheduled from September 18 to September 22. During this session, speculations arise that the government may introduce a bill to enact ‘One Nation, One Election.’
With five states slated to hold elections later this year and the General Elections approaching in 2024, the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal could soon become a reality. If implemented, this would mean simultaneous voting for both Lok Sabha and state assembly elections, streamlining the electoral process across the nation.
While simultaneous elections for state assemblies and the Lok Sabha were the norm until 1967, changes ensued due to premature dissolutions and elections in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expressed its intention to explore methods for synchronizing state and national elections in its election manifesto.