Centre to hold conclave to discuss feasibility of ‘one nation, one election’

The BJP MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe said many political parties have theoretically backed the idea, but have issues regarding its implementation.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) linked think-tank, Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini (RMP), plans a new push to the ‘one nation, one election’ idea, also backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A Parliament committee, in December 2015, had presented a report on the “feasibility” of holding simultaneous elections and the RMP wants to take the debate forward.(Gurpreet Singh/HT File Photo)

The Centre has sent out invites to different political parties for a two-day conclave in Mumbai on January 20 and 21 to discuss the feasibility of holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

Rajya Sabha MP and RMP vice chairman Vinay Sahasrabuddhe said Baijayant Jay Panda of the Biju Janata Dal and KC Tyagi of the Janata Dal (United) will attend the conclave.

“We will present a report to the government at the end of the event,” said Sahasrabuddhe, also the chairman of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

Read | One India, One election an interesting concept but its benefits not clear yet

The BJP MP said many political parties have theoretically backed the idea, but have issues regarding its implementation. Several papers, he said, will be presented at the conclave suggesting ways to iron out those differences.

A Parliament committee, in December 2015, had presented a report on the “feasibility” of holding simultaneous elections and the RMP wants to take the debate forward.

The seminar will cover five major issues — hazards of multiplicity of elections; concept, advisability and implementation issues related to simultaneous election; issues regarding no-confidence and dissolution of houses and their solutions; advisability and implementation-related issues of aligning local body elections with general elections and worldwide experiences of ‘one nation, one election’.

Read | It’s time to hold simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies

Sahasrabuddhe said multiplicity of elections and the code of conduct that comes into effect before polls on any level hamper development work, besides throwing up logistical issues such as arranging security forces, in every election. This leads to wastage of public money, he said.