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

Simultaneous elections: recommendations of high-level committee

– Elections have been held simultaneously between 1951 and 1967.

– Law Commission: 170th report (1999): One election to Lok Sabha and all Legislative Assemblies in five years.

– Parliamentary Committee 79th Report (2015): suggest methods for simultaneous elections in two phases.

– High Level Committee chaired by Ram Nath Kovind extensively consulted a broad spectrum of stakeholders including political parties and experts.

– The report is available online at: https://onoe.gov.in

– Extensive feedback has showed there is widespread support for simultaneous elections in the country.

Recommendations and way forward

– Implement in two phases.

– In first phase: conduct Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously.

– In second phase: Conduct local body elections (panchayat and municipalities) within 100 days of general elections.

– Common electoral roll for all elections.

– Will initiate detailed discussions throughout the country.

– Constitute an implementation group.