New Delhi, 06-01-2024 : The panel spearheading the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative, led by former president Ram Nath Kovind, has opened avenues for public input by inviting suggestions to enhance the existing legal and administrative framework for implementing simultaneous elections in India. The high-level committee, through a public notice, has announced that suggestions received by January 15 will be considered in their deliberations.
Interested individuals can submit their suggestions through the committee’s website at onoe.gov.in or via email to sc-hlc@gov.in, as mentioned in the notice. Since its establishment in September of the previous year, the committee, under the leadership of Ram Nath Kovind, has conducted two meetings. Recently, the committee reached out to political parties for their opinions on the concept of simultaneous elections, proposing an interactive session on a mutually agreed date. A reminder was sent to political parties to ensure their participation.
The committee extended invitations to six national parties, 33 state parties, and seven registered unrecognised parties to gather diverse perspectives on the matter. Additionally, the committee sought insights from the Law Commission on the feasibility of simultaneous elections and may seek further consultation on the issue.
As outlined in its terms of reference, the committee is mandated to “examine and make recommendations for holding simultaneous elections to the House of the People (Lok Sabha), State Legislative Assemblies, Municipalities and Panchayats.” The committee’s task involves a comprehensive review of the existing constitutional and statutory provisions, recommending specific amendments to laws such as the Constitution of India, the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Representation of the People Act, 1951, along with other pertinent laws and rules requiring modifications to facilitate simultaneous elections.