Centre sets up panel to examine ‘one nation, one election’ system

Panel will be headed by ex-president Ram Nath Kovind

The Centre on Friday formed a committee headed by former President of India Ram Nath Kovind to examine whether the country will have “one nation, one election” or simultaneous national and state elections system, reports said.

The committee will examine whether India will have the “one nation, one election” system.

The move comes a day after the Centre announced a special session of the parliament from September 18 to 22, without revealing the agenda.

The surprise announcement was followed by intense speculation that a bill on ‘one nation, one election’ would be tabled during the session, but no one from the government has confirmed this.

‘One nation, one election’ refers to holding the Lok Sabha and state assembly polls simultaneously across the country, like it was in the first few rounds of elections in India.

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. Conducting polls simultaneously was the norm in India until 1967 and four elections were held this way.

The practice stopped after some state assemblies were dissolved prematurely in 1968-69. The Lok Sabha was also, for the first time, dissolved a year ahead of schedule in 1970 and mid-term elections had been held in 1971. (KNS)