Law Commission recommends single election, asserts no need to consult states

NEW DELHI: The Law Commission has stated that there is no necessity for the central government to consult with the states during elections, as the central government possesses the authority to legislate under the Constitution. The commission, however, is not yet prepared to release further details. It has been reported that the Law Commission is in the process of recommending a constitutional amendment that would enable the simultaneous holding of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in 2029.

The final report is expected to be submitted within 15 days. The intention of the Law Commission is to present this report to both the central government and the high-level committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind. Former Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Rituraj Awasthi presided over the meeting which included Justice K T Sankaran, Professor Dr Anand Paliwal, Professor D P Verma and other members of the 22nd Law Commission. They convened yesterday to discuss the draft report and will hold another meeting within 15 days to finalize and approve the report. Subsequently, the report will be signed by the chairman and members of the Law Commission before being forwarded to the central government and the high-level committee. The Ram Nath Kovind committee had previously invited suggestions and recommendations from the Law Commission.

There are scheduled to be 12 assembly elections between this year and next year along with Lok Sabha elections slated for May next year. Assembly elections are expected in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana by the end of this year. Additionally, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand are scheduled to hold elections next year. Elections in Jammu and Kashmir could occur at any time. Given this situation, the stance taken by the central government after reviewing the Law Commission and Ram Nath Kovind Committee's report will be of great importance. It also remains to be seen whether the country will rush into elections in 2024. The central government continues to be in suspense regarding these matters.