One nation, one election to spur development, enhance transparency, says Kovind panel: Key points

Simultaneous polls will spur development process and social cohesion as well as deepen the foundations of democratic rubric, said former President Ram Nath Kovind-led panel, which submitted its report on 'One Nation, One Election'.

This came after the high-level panel headed by Ram Nath Kovind on March 14 submitted its report on the feasibility of holding simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha, state assemblies and local bodies across the country.

The panel submitted the report, comprising 18,626 pages, to President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

'One Nation, One Election': Here's what the panel said

1. Synchronised polls for all three tiers of government will improve governance architecture, in line with quest of aspirational India, PTI quoted the panel as saying.


2. The panel further added that simultaneous polls can help realise the aspirations of 'India, that is Bharat'.


3. Kovind panel said simultaneous polls will significantly enhance transparency, inclusivity, ease and confidence of voters, the PTI report further added.


4. Simultaneous polls will spur development process and social cohesion, deepen foundations of democratic rubric.


5. The panel also recommended advance planning for equipments, manpower and security forces for holding simultaneous polls.

Set up in September last year, the panel was given the mandate to examine and make recommendations for holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, municipalities and panchayats, keeping in view the existing constitutional framework.

Headed by Kovind, the panel also has members including Home Minister Amit Shah, former leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, former finance commission chairman N K Singh, former Lok Sabha secretary general Subhash Kashyap and senior advocate Harish Salve.