What Kovind-led panel has proposed if there's Hung Parliament or assembly

Ramnath Kovind is heading the panel on 'one nation one election'

A high-level panel headed by former President Ramnath Kovind has submitted its report on "one nation, one election" to President Droupadi Murmu.

The panel, formed to examine the feasability of simultaneous polls across the country, has backed the idea of "one nation, one election" in its report to the President. It said that such an exercise would transform electoral process and governance in India.

In its report, the panel has also recommended that in the event of a hung assembly or no-confidence motion, fresh elections can be held for the remainder of the five-year tenure.

A hung assembly happens when no single party or alliance manages to get a simple majority in Lok Sabha or state legislative assembly.

The panel said that where fresh elections are held for the state legislative assemblies, then such new legislative assembly - unless dissolved sooner - shall continue up to the end of the term of the Lok Sabha.

It said that a Constitution Amendment Bill will have to be introduced in Parliament amending Article 83 (Duration of Houses of Parliament) and Article 172 (Duration of State Legislatures). This Constitutional Amendment will not seed ratification by the states, the report said.

Simultaneous polls will spur development and social cohesion, deepen "foundations of democratic rubric" and help realise the aspirations of "India, that is Bharat", the panel headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind said in its report that runs into into more than 18,000 pages.