Ram Nath Kovind-Led Panel Submits Comprehensive 'One Nation, One Election’ Report to President Droupadi Murmu

The coveted ‘One Nation One Election’ committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday submitted its report to President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

The panel led by Ramnath Kovind has advocated for the introduction of simultaneous elections, beginning with the synchronization of Lok Sabha and state assembly polls, followed by local body elections within 100 days thereafter. To align with subsequent Lok Sabha elections, the tenure of state assemblies for the first simultaneous polls may conclude at that time. Additionally, the committee outlined provisions for addressing political uncertainties such as hung assemblies or no-confidence motions by proposing fresh elections for the remaining term.

The committee also elucidated the logistical concerns of conducting elections and underscored the need to plan for things like equipment, people, and security. They also said it would be helpful to have one list of voters for all elections and to give out voter ID cards with the help of state election offices for all types of elections - whether it's for the country, state, or local areas.

NK Singh and Prachi Mishra from the International Monetary Fund also worked out the financial aspect of conducting simultaneous elections in the report. The committee worked with political parties, experts on the constitution, former top election officials, the Election Commission, and others to hear different views on the topic and then collate one comprehensive report. The 18,626-page report was formulated after several rounds of talks with people from several walks of life.​​