Modi Government Approves 'One Nation, One Election' Proposal

The Narendra Modi government on Wednesday cleared the report of a former President Ram Nath Kovind-led panel on 'One Nation, One Election'. A bill to this effect-for holding simultaneous polls-is likely to be introduced in the Winter session of Parliament that will start from November 29.

This development has come after the high-level panel led by Ram Nath Kovind was placed before the Union Cabinet.

The 'One Nation, One Election' seeks to align the parliamentary and assembly elections. Clearance of the 'One Nation, One Election' was also reportedly underway as part of the 100-day agenda of the Modi government.

Time and again Prime Minister Modi has underlined the need and importance of clubbing the elections under one schedule while highlighting how the country "pays a price" for remaining in election season throughout the year.

It was submitted by the high-level committee headed by Ram Nath Kovind in March this year and recommended the preparation of common electoral roll and voter ID cards by the Election Commission (ECI), in consultation with state election authorities.

"Simultaneous polls will help save resources, remove the impediments and help realise the aspirations of "India, that is Bharat", the panel had said.

The Opposition, however, is not satisfied with the idea of 'one nation, one election'. The most crucial opposition parties such as Congress, AAP and many more are found to be objecting and protesting against this electoral mechanism and are holding it against BJP for the extraordinarily autocratic way the presidential form of governance is being enforced in the country by doing away with the one already present.
The idea of 'one nation, one election' was suggested in 1980s first.

Lok Sabha and Assemblies simultaneously were held in 1951-52, 1957, 1962 and 1967, but the cycle was disrupted as some Assemblies were prematurely dissolved.