Keeping its promise of implementing ‘One Nation, One Election’ in its third term, the Modi Government on Wednesday accepted the recommendations of former President of India Ram Nath Kovind headed panel on this.
The Kovind panel report was placed before the Union Cabinet today and it was accepted, Union Minister for I&B, Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters after the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
There will be common electoral roll for all elections. An implementation group will be constituted for one nation, one election, the Minister said, adding a large number of political parties have supported One Nation, One Election.
“One Nation, One Election will strengthen democracy and centre-state relations,” he said.
One nation, One election will be implemented in two phases. In first phase Lok Sabha and assembly elections will be held. In the second phase, local body elections will be held, Vaishnaw said.
High level committee headed by former President of India Shri Kovind extensively consulted a broad spectrum of stakeholders including political parties and experts on One nation One election, the Minister said.
Elaborating on the One Nation, One Election, Vaishnaw said this will ensure faster growth and development. Over next few months the Government will be creating consensus on simultaneous elections through detailed discussions.
There will be good positive economic implications of simultaneous elections, he said, adding once the entire legal processes are complete we can say what would be the appointed date for holding simultaneous elections.
He said that elections were held simultaneously between 1951-67. The recommendations of Kovind panel will be discussed across India on various fora.
The Minister claimed that over 80 percent of the respondents especially youth who gave their suggestions during consultation process for simultaneous elections strongly supported the idea of One Nation, One Election.
He also reiterated that One Nation, One Election will be implemented in the current term of the NDA Government.
