The Narendra Modi-led NDA government will implement ‘One Country, One Election’ during its current tenure, multiple reports said on Sunday.
“Definitely, it will be implemented in this tenure itself. It will be a reality,” PTI quoted one source as saying.
According to a report in News18, the government will also begin the census exercise soon and restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir in the minimum possible time after the assembly elections in the Union Territory.
The announcement comes as the thrid term of the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed 100 days in office.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had mentioned in the Independence Day speech this year that the government is committed to implementing ‘One Country, One Election’, which has been a priority for the NDA government. PM Modi added that that frequent polls were creating hurdles in the country’s progress.
The PM also urged the political parties from the Red Fort and with the national tricolour as a witness to ensure the nation’s progress. He also asked the parties to ensure that national resources are used for the common person and said, We have to come forward to realise the dream of ‘one nation, one election’.
The government had formed a committee under the chairmanship of former President Ramnath Kovind, which submitted its report. The panel had recommended simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies as a first step, which would be followed by local body polls within 100 days.
‘One nation, one election’ is one of the key promises made by the BJP in its manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections.
The Law Commission is likely to recommend holding simultaneous polls for all three tiers of government — Lok Sabha, state assemblies and local bodies like municipalities and panchayats — starting with 2029 and a provision for unity government in cases like hung house or no-confidence motion.
However, the Kovind panel has not specified any period for rolling out simultaneous polls. It has proposed creation of an ‘Implementation Group’ to look into the execution of the panel’s recommendations.