Soon after the Union Cabinet approved the One Nation, One Election, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw addressed a press conference and said an implementation group would be formed to take forward recommendations of the Kovind panel on simultaneous polls.
Kovind panel suggestions to be discussed across India
He also said that the recommendations of Kovind panel to be discussed across India on various fora and added that the Kovind panel found widespread support for simultaneous polls.
On 'One Nation, One Election', Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "A large number of political parties across the political spectrum has actually supported the One Nation One Election initiative. When they interact with high-level meetings, they give their input in a very succinct manner and with a lot of clarity. Our govt believes in creating a consensus on items which affect democracy and the nation in the long run. This is a subject, a topic that will strengthen our nation..."
Ashwini Vaishnaw on Mallikarjun Kharge's remark
On Mallikarjun Kharge's remark calling 'One Nation One Election' as "impractical", Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "The opposition might start feeling internal pressure (about One Nation One Election) as more than 80% of respondents who responded during consultant process have given their positive support, especially the youth, they are very much in favour of this."
Earlier in the day, the Union Cabinet approved the Central government's 'One Nation, One Election' proposal which proposes simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, with urban body and panchayat polls to be held within 100 days.
The recommendations were made in a report of a hight panel committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind. Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "The Union Cabinet has accepted the recommendations by the high-level committee on 'One Nation, One Election. Cabinet approved the proposal unanimously."
Proposals will be implemented in two phases
The Union Minister further said that the proposal will be implemented in two phases. "In the first phase, Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections will be held and in the second phase, local bodies elections (Gram Panchayat, Block, Zila Panchayat) and urban local bodies (municipality and municipal committees or municipal corporations)," the Minister said.
He further stated that recommendations of former President Ram Nath Kovind's panel will be discussed across India on various forums.
"When they interact with high-level meetings, they give their input in a very succinct manner and with a lot of clarity. Our government believes in creating a consensus on items that affect democracy and the nation in the long run. This is a subject, a topic that will strengthen our nation," the Union Minister said.
The Kovind-led High-Level Committee on 'One Nation-One Election' led by former President Ram Nath Kovind in its report stated that frequent elections create an atmosphere of uncertainty and impact policy decisions, adding that holding simultaneous elections would bring enhanced certainty in policy making.
The report, comprising 18,626 pages, is an outcome of extensive consultations with stakeholders, experts and research work over 191 days, since the constitution of the High-Level Committee on September 2, 2023.
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