High-Level Committee Recommends Two-Step Approach for Simultaneous Elections

The High-Level Committee (HLC) on Simultaneous Elections, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, presented its report to President Droupadi Murmu after extensive consultations and research spanning 191 days. The 18,626-page report proposes a two-step approach to achieve simultaneous elections.

In the first step, elections for the House of the People and State Legislative Assemblies will be synchronized. The second step involves aligning Municipalities and Panchayat elections with national and state elections, ensuring they occur within 100 days of the former.

The committee engaged legal experts, former Chief Justices, Election Commissioners, and business organizations to gather diverse perspectives. Emphasizing the economic imperative of simultaneous elections, experts highlighted the adverse impact of asynchronous polls on inflation and economic growth.

Crafting recommendations within the existing constitutional framework, the committee aimed for minimal constitutional amendments. It concluded that simultaneous elections would enhance transparency, inclusivity, and voter confidence, fostering development and social cohesion.

Apart from Ram Nath Kovind, committee members included Union Minister Amit Shah, former Opposition Leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, and other eminent figures. The report underscores the significance of simultaneous elections in realizing India's democratic aspirations.