One Nation, One Election: Ram Nath Kovind-Led Panel To Hold First Meeting On September 23

The first meeting of the 'One Nation, One Election' committee will be held on September 23, former President and chairman of the committee Ram Nath Kovind said.

Former President Ram Nath Kovind is leading the panel to explore the viability of the 'one nation, one election' idea ( Image Source :PTI )

The first meeting of the 'One Nation, One Election' committee will be held on September 23, former President and chairman of the committee Ram Nath Kovind said. The Centre on September 1 formed the committee headed by former President Kovind to explore the possibility of 'one nation, one election'.

As of now, the state elections and the Lok Sabha or Parliamentary elections are held in two different cycles. Each state goes to polls after every five years and so does the Lok Sabha or the Lower House of Parliament. Each state follows its own cycle. However, if a bill on the 'one nation, one election' idea is passed, all state elections would be held together with the Lok Sabha polls, possibly on the same day.

If the Bill is tabled at the special session of Parliament, it will need a Constitutional amendment, which, in turn, would need clearance by 67% of the Lok Sabha members, 67% of the Rajya Sabha members, and 50% of the state legislatures. The BJP is a strong advocate of the 'one nation, one election' idea as, it claims, that the practice would save the nation money, would help in better and streamlined administration, and help in better conduct of elections.

The Opposition has, however, alleged that it is a ploy of the BJP to hold early Lok Sabha polls, giving less time to its opponents to prepare as they had come under a single alliance. While there were reports that the BJP may introduce the bill in the five-day special Parliament session beginning on Monday, the government put out a "tentative agenda", not naming the bill. However, the Opposition is still apprehensive. On Friday, TMC MP said, "The agenda of the special Parliament session has still not been announced, and I say this because on the list of business, they have written a very sinister line there saying this is not the exhaustive list of business. They will be up to dirty tricks, and they can add some business last minute."