Centre forms ‘one-nation, one-election’, Ram Nath Kovind-heads committee
Centre forms ‘one-nation, one-election’, Ram Nath Kovind-heads committee
The ‘One Nation One Poll constituted by the Centre comes a day following the call by the government at a special session of Parliament amidst September 18 and 22. The agenda for the same is under wraps.
Former President Ram Nath Kovind heads ‘One Nation One Poll’ a Committee Constituted by the Centre to explore the possibility of much-talked-about “one nation, one election.
Over the years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pushed strongly for the idea of simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly polls, and the decision to task Kovind to look into it underscores the government’s seriousness as a host of elections approach.
Kovind, too, had echoed Modi’s view and expressed his support to the idea after becoming President in 2017.
Kovind added that the frequent elections not only impose a huge burden on human resources but also impede the development process owing to the promulgation of the model code of conduct
With the Modi government approaching end of its second term, there is a view in its top echelon that it can no longer let the issue drag on and needs to move decisively to underscore its purposefulness after debating on the topic for years.
With the ruling BJP under Modi always animated by grander themes and big ticket ideas to rally popular support, the issue will also suit the party politically and catch the opposition off-guard, leaders in the party believe.
Assembly polls are due in five states- Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Rajasthan- in November-December and they are scheduled to be followed by the Lok Sabha elections in May-June next year.
Reportedly, the recent move by the government have thrown open the possibility of advancing the general elections and some state polls, scheduled after and with the Lok Sabha contest.
Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh assemblies are scheduled goes to the polls with the Lok Sabha elections.
The Bharatiya Janata Party enjoys cordial ties with Andhra Pradesh chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy and his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik even though they are not formally part of its alliance. The BJP is in power in Arunachal while Sikkim is ruled by an ally.
Maharashtra and Haryana, two states where the BJP is in power with allies, and JMM-Congress-ruled Jharkhand are slated to go for polls after the Lok Sabha contest.
Soon following the announcement of the government’s decision for a special session of Parliament, there have been multiple speculations over the agenda for the five-day session.
One of the agenda items speculated upon was dissolving the current Parliament and announcement of early Lok Sabha elections.
This decision, could be brought on by a cabinet decision and, therefore, convening a special sitting of Parliament if early Lok Sabha elections were indeed the agenda, was not a requirement. What could be part of the BJP government’s plan is that the government would put forth its achievements of the past five years and explain to the people via the parliament session the need to hold snap polls along with state elections that are scheduled to be held this year.
Meanwhile, one-nation, one-election would need a constitutional amendment and then it would need to be taken to state assemblies. It isn’t a new concept having taken place four times in the 1950s and 60s but India has fewer states and a smaller population that could vote.
News Edit K.V.Raman
