Kovind committee submits recommendation; Single election in the country from 2029!

NEW DELHI: The High-Level Committee on 'One Nation One Election' chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan and submitted its report on Thursday. The recommendation to implement the 'One Nation, One Election' from 2029 has paved the way for the early end of the next government's term in several states, including Kerala. In many other states, the tenure of governments will have to be extended.

The aim is to reduce costs by synchronizing the timing of Lok Sabha, assembly and local elections. The new government coming to the Centre this year has to implement the constitutional amendment. An implementation committee should be formed for this.

The next assembly elections in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Bengal are scheduled to take place in 2026. If the assembly elections after that are held along with the Lok Sabha elections in 2029, the term of the governments formed in 2026 will be only three years. Meanwhile, the term of the current governments of Karnataka, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan will end in 2028. In these states, the term will have to be extended by one year. Otherwise, the President's rule should be imposed for one year.

Constitutional amendment for Lok Sabha - Assembly elections does not require the approval of states. On the other hand, the permission of the states is required to conduct joint elections to the local bodies.

47 parties such as the Congress, DMK, Samajwadi, Aam Aadmi, BSP, CPM, CPI and Trinamool had opposed the 'One Nation One Election' proposal. BJP and NPP are the only national parties among the 32 parties that have supported it. The 18,626-page report was submitted by Ram Nath Kovind, committee members Union Minister Amit Shah and former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad. The committee was formed in September 2023.

Election to be held in two phases

• First Lok Sabha and assembly elections will be held. Local body elections will take place within the next 100 days
• If there is a hung assembly or the government falls due to no confidence, elections will be held for the remainder of the term. (If a government formed in 2029 falls in 2030 due to no-confidence, an election will be held. However, the new government will have a term only till 2034)
• Constitutional amendment with approval of states to implement single voter list and single identity card

Five sections should be amended

1. Article 83 - Duration of Houses of Parliament
2. Article 85 - Sessions of Parliament, prorogation and dissolution
3. Article 172 - Duration of State Legislatures
4. Article 174 - Sessions of State Legislature, prorogation and dissolution
5. Article 356 -President's rule