One Nation, One Election: Key Takeaways from the Kovind Panel Report, No-confidence Motion to Hanging Assembly Scenario

Report on One Nation, One Election: On Thursday, March 14, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Droupadi Murmu received the 18,626-page report from the high-level panel led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which examined the viability of holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies nationwide. After 191 days of investigation and thorough interaction with experts and stakeholders since the report’s formation on September 2, 2023, the President received it.

The One Nation, One Election report’s salient features
According to the panel’s findings, all members of the committee believe that the nation should have simultaneous elections, which may be implemented in 2029.
“Therefore, the government may propose necessary amendments to the Constitution and other pertinent laws.”
“The provisions of this Article may be brought into force by the President of India by notification issued on the date of the first sitting of the House of People following a general election, and that date of the notification shall be called the appointed date,” the statement said.
The panel suggested scheduling security personnel, equipment, and labor well in advance in order to perform simultaneous elections.
According to the panel findings, all state legislatures may serve out their terms for the first simultaneous polls up until the next Lok Sabha elections.
The article further said that the EC would create voter ID cards and a single electoral register for local bodies, assemblies, and Lok Sabha elections in cooperation with state poll authorities.
New elections may be scheduled to complete the five-year term in the event of a hung House or no-confidence vote.
The Kovind panel said that all state legislatures may serve out their terms for the first simultaneous polls up until the next Lok Sabha elections.
It further said that local body elections within 100 days will come after simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls.
“In regards to the Constitution’s prohibition on extending the terms of legislatures, with the exception of emergencies, it is true that doing so would go against the will of the people. However, in regards to the Constitution’s provision regarding curtailment, it states that the Houses’ terms shall be five years “unless dissolved earlier.” The report suggested that while the current position may not be changed, efforts should be made to hold simultaneous elections for the State Legislative Assembly and the House of the People over a five-year period, or by 2029, at which point the issue of local elections would also be addressed because simultaneous elections for the two assemblies would then become a reality.
According to the study, 5,232 people have responded to the website onoe.gov.in’s feedback analysis on simultaneous elections as of February 28, 2024. Significant support for One Nation, One Election was shown by the 3,837 votes in favor and the 1,395 votes against the proposal.

A two-step process to achieve simultaneous elections has been suggested by the High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections. The Committee’s report suggests that the first stage will be holding simultaneous elections for the State Legislative Assemblies and the House of the People. As per the Committee’s report, the second step should involve coordinating municipal and panchayat elections with the House of People and state legislative assemblies. This would ensure that municipal and panchayat elections are conducted within a hundred days of the House of People and State Legislative Assembly elections. In addition, the Committee suggests that Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) and a single electoral register be used for elections to all three levels of government.

Parties to be approached politically during talks
Aam Aadmi Party, Indian National Congress, All-Jharkhand Students Union Party (AJSU), All India Majilis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen, All India Trinamool Congress, All India United Democratic Front, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Apna Dal (Soneylal), Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), Bahujan Samaj Party, Bhartiya Janata Party, Biju Janata Dal, Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (M), Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Democratic Progressive Azad Party, Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), Hindustani Awam Morcha, Indian Makkal Kalvi Munnetra Kazhagam, Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT), Jan Surajya Shakti Party, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janashakti Party(R), Maharashtra Gomantak Party, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Mizo National Front, Naga Peoples’ Front, National People’s Party (NPP), Nationalist Congress Party, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal (Nishad Party) Pattali Makkal Katchi, Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal, Puthiya Needhi Katchi Republican Party of India (Athawale) (RPI(Atwl)), Social Democratic Party of India, Samajwadi Party, Shiromani Akali Dal, Shiv Sena, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, Tamil Maanila Congress, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, United Kisan Vikas Party, United People’s Party Liberal, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.