Ahead Of Special Parliament Session, Centre Forms Panel To Explore Possibility Of 'One Nation, One Election'

The panel on 'One Nation, One Election' will be headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind.

The Centre may introduce a bill on 'one nation, one election' at the special Parliament session from September 18-22. ( Image Source :ANI )

The Centre has constituted a committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind to explore the possibility of 'one nation, one election', reported news agency PTI, citing sources. This comes ahead of the five-day special session of Parliament convened by Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi from September 18-22. The committee is likely to have retired judges, the Cabinet Secretary, a former Chief Justice of Supreme Court, a retired Election Commissioner, and experts on matters of the Constitution as members.

Speculation is rife that the Centre might introduce a Bill on 'one nation, one election', women's reservation, and Uniform Civil Code during the special Parliament session. However, the government has not clarified the agenda of the special Parliament session.

Reacting to the development, Congress leader Naseem Khan said: “It is unprecedented for a former President to be brought in for political perspective for such a committee."

At present, the assembly or state elections and the General or Lok Sabha or Parliamentary elections are held separately. 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 along 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 aid in better conduct of elections.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday said that the Centre is yet to present a draft of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), and asserted that a proper debate on the draft is needed before arriving at a conclusion. "Do we know what rules are going to be changed? Which community will have to sacrifice what," Tharoor asked.

The women's reservation bill has also been pending since the 90s. It has been tabled multiple times in Parliament but has lapsed every time after failing to garner enough votes. Now, BRS MLC K Kavitha is spearheading the protest to demand the Bill's introduction and passage. She has threatened to stage another protest in December around the time when Parliament convenes the winter session.