Union Cabinet Approves Recommendations for Simultaneous Elections

The Voice of Chandigarh News:

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has officially accepted the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections, which was chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind.

Overview of Simultaneous Elections

Simultaneous elections were conducted in India from 1951 to 1967. Notably, the Law Commission’s 170th report in 1999 recommended that Lok Sabha and all Legislative Assemblies should be elected every five years. Additionally, the Parliamentary Committee’s 79th report in 2015 proposed methods for implementing simultaneous elections in two phases.

The High-Level Committee engaged in extensive consultations with a diverse range of stakeholders, including political parties and experts, revealing widespread support for the initiative.

Key Recommendations and Implementation Strategy

1. Implementation in Two Phases:
   • Phase One: Lok Sabha and Assembly elections to be held simultaneously.
   • Phase Two: Local body elections (panchayat and municipalities) to take place within 100 days following the general elections.
2. Common Electoral Roll: A unified electoral roll will be established for all elections.
3. Next Steps:
   • The government will initiate comprehensive discussions across the nation.
   • An implementation group will be formed to oversee the process.