A joint parliamentary committee (JPC) scrutinising the proposal for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies commenced its three-day visit to Gujarat on Tuesday to engage with stakeholders and collect opinions on the matter.
Panel Composition and Purpose
The 41-member parliamentary panel, led by BJP MP P P Chaudhary, is examining two proposed legislations related to simultaneous elections: The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill. The committee aims to build consensus before submitting its recommendations to parliament.
Chaudhary's Remarks at Ahmedabad Airport
Upon arriving at Ahmedabad airport, Chaudhary stated that the 'One Nation, One Election' concept serves the national interest and has garnered support from multiple institutions and committees. The panel is scheduled to meet various stakeholders at GIFT City in Gandhinagar.
Support from Law Commission and Niti Aayog
Chaudhary highlighted that the Law Commission of India has advocated for simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. He added that policy think tank Niti Aayog has also endorsed simultaneous polls in its reports.
“In light of all these considerations, it is evident that holding simultaneous elections is absolutely essential for the nation’s welfare,” Chaudhary said. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated this electoral reform process by forming a committee under former President Ram Nath Kovind to examine the issue.
Kovind Committee Recommendations
According to Chaudhary, the Kovind-led committee recommended that Lok Sabha and state assembly elections be held together, while elections to panchayats and municipalities should be completed within 100 days of the parliamentary and assembly polls.
Chaudhary added that the committee is travelling across the country to interact with stakeholders and build a broad consensus. Before arriving in Gujarat, the panel visited Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Karnataka.
“Our endeavour is to listen to everyone and take all viewpoints into account. When we submit our recommendations to parliament, our primary objective will be to ensure that a broad consensus has emerged among all stakeholders,” Chaudhary emphasised.
