One nation, one election: Union cabinet clears proposal

The Union cabinet on Wednesday cleared the proposal for one nation one election after accepting the Kovind panel report on it Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said reported the PTIThe report of the highlevel committee on one nation one election was placed before the Union Cabinet on Wednesday sources told the PTIThe panel headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind had submitted the report in March ahead of the announcement of Lok Sabha electionsWATCH Union Cabinet has accepted the recommendations by the highlevel committee on One Nation One Election announces Union Minister Ashwini VaishnawVideo source PIB YouTube pictwittercomNnE99wNDermdash ANI ANI September 18 2024Placing the report before the Cabinet was a part of the law ministrys 110day agendaThe highlevel committee had recommended simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies as the first step followed by synchronised local body polls within 100 daysThe panel had also proposed setting up of an Implementation Group to look into the execution of the recommendations made by the committeeWATCH On One Nation One Election Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says A large number of political parties across the political spectrum has actually supported the One Nation One Election initiative When they interact with highlevel meetings they give their input in ahellip pictwittercomipv4Y8HT9Jmdash ANI ANI September 18 2024Simultaneous polls will help save resources spur development and social cohesion deepen foundations of democratic rubric and help realise the aspirations of India that is Bharat the panel had said the news agency reported on WednesdayThe panel also recommended the preparation of a common electoral roll and voter ID cards by the Election Commission of India ECI in consultation with state election authoritiesAt present the ECI is responsible for the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls while the local body polls for municipalities and panchayats are managed by state election commissionsThe panel recommended as many as 18 constitutional amendments most of which will not need ratification by state Assemblies However these would require certain Constitution amendment Bills that would need to be passed by ParliamentSome proposed changes regarding the single electoral roll and single voter ID card would need ratification by at least half of the statesSeparately the Law Commission is also likely to come up soon with its own report on simultaneous polls of which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a strong votarySources said that the Law Commission is likely to recommend holding simultaneous polls for all three tiers of the government the Lok Sabha state Assemblies and local bodies like municipalities and panchayats starting with 2029 and a provision for unity government in cases like hung houseRecommendations and way forward Implement in two phases In first phase Conduct Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously In second phase Conduct local body elections panchayats and municipalities within 100 days of general elections Common electoral roll for all elections Will initiate detailed discussions throughout the country Constitute an implementation groupwith PTI and ANI inputs