The Kovind-led high-level committee in its report stated on why the Centre plans to implement ‘One Nation, One Election’ that frequent elections create an atmosphere of uncertainty and impact policy decisions.
In a significant decision, the Union Cabinet today cleared the Central government’s ‘One Nation, One Election’ recommendations that suggests simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections with urban body and panchayat polls to be conducted within 100 days. Significantly, these recommendations were given in a report of a high panel committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind.
According to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Cabinet accepted the high-level committee’s recommendations on ‘One Nation, One Election’. The proposal was adopted by the cabinet with a consensus.
He said the Kovind panel recommendation will be implemented in two phases. “First, Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections, and in the second phase, local bodies elections (Gram Panchayat, Block, Zila Panchayat) and urban local bodies (municipality and municipal committees or municipal corporations)”, the Minister said.
This decision, Vaishnaw said, will be taken to various platforms across India to be discussed. “An implementation group is to be formed to take forward recommendations from the Kovind panel on simultaneous polls,” the minister added.
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Why does Centre wish to implement ‘One Nation, One Election’?
Comparing reasons as to why Centre is keen to implement ‘One Nation, One Election’, it has been stated in the report of the High-Level Committee led by Kovind that frequent elections create an atmosphere of uncertainty, which affects policymaking. It further explained that simultaneous election would bring higher certainty into policymaking.
The report, running into 18,626 pages, is the product of an extensive process of consultations with stakeholders, experts and research work during 191 days since the constitution of the High-Level Committee on September 2, 2023.
One Nation, One Election: Check benefits
- One Nation One Election brings ease and convenience to voters.
- It saves voters’ fatigue.
- One Nation One Election also allows more voters to come out and vote.
- Intermittent elections had bad spillover effects on economic growth, quality of public expenditure, educational and other outcomes besides upsetting social harmony.
