The Union Cabinet accepted the Kovind committee report on One Nation One Poll on September 18. (Image for representation: Getty)
The Kovind panel report has recommended ‘One Nation One Poll’ to be implemented in two stages: first for Lok Sabha and assembly elections, and the second for local body elections within 100 days of general elections
An implementation group will be formed to take forward the recommendations of the Kovind panel on ‘One Nation One Poll’, the report for which was accepted by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday (September 18).
Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said this group will execute the recommendations in the report, which said simultaneous polls will be implemented in two stages: first for the Lok Sabha and assembly elections, and the second for local body elections within 100 days of general elections.
Here is how the government plans to implement ‘One Nation One Poll’ (ONOP):
- Simultaneous elections will be implemented in two phases
- In the first phase, Lok Sabha and assembly elections will be conducted simultaneously
- In second phase, local body elections to panchayats and municipal bodies will be conducted within 100 days of the general elections
- There will be a common electoral roll for all elections
- The Centre will initiate detailed discussions throughout the country
- An implementation group will be formed to execute the recommendations of the Kovind panel.
Vaishnaw said a large number of parties have supported ONOP, and the Centre will seek to create consensus over next few months. He said the recommendations of the Kovind panel will be discussed across India on various fora.
He further said the panel found widespread support for simultaneous polls, following which the Cabinet gave a unanimous nod to the proposal.