A panel led by former President Ram Nath Kovind has backed the idea of holding lections to the Lok Sabha and the state legislative assemblies simultaneously, saying that One Nation One Election will aid development process and social cohesion in the country.
The high-level committee said ONOP will deepen the foundations of democratic rubric and realise the aspirations of India, that is Bharat.
Noting that conducting separate elections cast a huge burden on the government, businesses, workers, courts, political parties, candidates contesting elections and civil society at large, the committee suggested the government to develop a legally tenable mechanism to restore the cycle of simultaneous elections.
It further recommended certain amendments, noting that while some of the Constitutional amendments would need the State’s ratification, certain amendments could be done by the Parliament without the States’ concurrence.
Members of the Committee were Senior Advocate Harish Salve, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress Leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, former Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission NK Singh, Former Lok Sabha Secretary General Dr Subhash C Kashyap and former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Sanjay Kothari.
Union Minister of State for Law and Justice (independent charge) Arjun Ram Meghwal was the special invitee, while Union Legal Affairs Department Secretary Niten Chandra was the Secretary of the Committee.