Centre Bats For ‘One Nation, One Election’, Panel Headed By Former President Ram Nath Kovind; Will A Bill Be Tabled?

New Delhi: A day after it announced a special session of the Parliament from September 18 to 22, the Centre has set up a committee to study the ‘one nation, one election’ proposal, and submit a report. The panel will be headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind.

‘One nation, one election’ refers to holding the Lok Sabha and state assembly polls simultaneously across the country. 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.

Fact file

• The last time polls were conducted simultaneously was in 1967
• Some state assemblies were dissolved prematurely in 1968-69, so the practice stopped.
• The first time Lok Sabha was dissolved a year ahead of schedule was in 1971 and mid-term elections were called.

BJP’s manifesto of 2014

• To evolve a method for holding Assembly and Lok Sabha elections simultaneously.
• 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.