{"id":3107,"date":"2023-09-23T12:18:54","date_gmt":"2023-09-23T12:18:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jammubulletin.com\/site\/?p=3107"},"modified":"2023-09-23T12:18:54","modified_gmt":"2023-09-23T12:18:54","slug":"panel-on-simultaneous-polls-holds-first-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jammubulletin.com\/site\/panel-on-simultaneous-polls-holds-first-meeting\/","title":{"rendered":"Panel on simultaneous polls holds first meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW DELHI: The\u00a0<\/span><\/span>high-level\u00a0<\/span><\/span>committee\u00a0<\/span><\/span>established\u00a0<\/span>by\u00a0<\/span><\/span>former\u00a0<\/span>president\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Ram\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Nath\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Kovind\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/a>to\u00a0<\/span>examine\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>viability\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>simultaneous\u00a0<\/span>elections<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>met\u00a0<\/span><\/span>here\u00a0<\/span>on\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Saturday\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>decide\u00a0<\/span><\/span>on\u00a0<\/span><\/span>its\u00a0<\/span>course\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>action\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>talk\u00a0<\/span><\/span>on\u00a0<\/span>how\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>hold\u00a0<\/span><\/span>stakeholder\u00a0<\/span>consultations.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>The\u00a0<\/span><\/span>eight-member\u00a0<\/span><\/span>“high-level”\u00a0<\/span><\/span>group\u00a0<\/span><\/span>was\u00a0<\/span>notified\u00a0<\/span><\/span>by\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>government\u00a0<\/span><\/span>on\u00a0<\/span><\/span>September\u00a0<\/span>2\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>look\u00a0<\/span><\/span>into\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>subject\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>holding\u00a0<\/span><\/span>simultaneous\u00a0<\/span>elections\u00a0<\/span><\/span>for\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>Lok\u00a0<\/span>Sabha,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>state\u00a0<\/span><\/span>assemblies,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>municipalities,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>panchayats<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>give\u00a0<\/span><\/span>suggestions\u00a0<\/span><\/span>as\u00a0<\/span>soon\u00a0<\/span><\/span>as\u00a0<\/span><\/span>possible.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>People\u00a0<\/span><\/span>with\u00a0<\/span><\/span>knowledge\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>situation\u00a0<\/span><\/span>described\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>meeting\u00a0<\/span><\/span>as\u00a0<\/span><\/span>introductory\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>nature\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>said\u00a0<\/span><\/span>it\u00a0<\/span><\/span>was\u00a0<\/span>called\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>talk\u00a0<\/span><\/span>about\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>plan\u00a0<\/span><\/span>for\u00a0<\/span><\/span>carrying\u00a0<\/span><\/span>out\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>panel’s\u00a0<\/span><\/span>mandate.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>meeting’s\u00a0<\/span>agenda\u00a0<\/span><\/span>included\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>creation\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>working\u00a0<\/span><\/span>papers,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>process\u00a0<\/span><\/span>for\u00a0<\/span><\/span>consulting\u00a0<\/span><\/span>with\u00a0<\/span><\/span>stakeholders,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>research\u00a0<\/span><\/span>on\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>topic\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>preparation\u00a0<\/span><\/span>for\u00a0<\/span><\/span>an\u00a0<\/span>in-depth\u00a0<\/span>discussion.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>group\u00a0<\/span><\/span>includes\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>Home\u00a0<\/span>Minister\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Amit\u00a0<\/span>Shah,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>former\u00a0<\/span><\/span>opposition\u00a0<\/span>leader\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>Rajya\u00a0<\/span>Sabha\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/span>Ghulam\u00a0<\/span>Nabi\u00a0<\/span><\/a>Azad,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>former\u00a0<\/span>chairman\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Finance\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Commission\u00a0<\/span><\/span>N\u00a0<\/span><\/span>K\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Singh.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>Adhir\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Ranjan\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Chowdhury,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>leader\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Congress\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>Lok\u00a0<\/span>Sabha,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>was\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>participant.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>He\u00a0<\/span><\/span>did,\u00a0<\/span>however,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>deny\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Shah’s\u00a0<\/span><\/span>invitation\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>join\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>panel\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>letter.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>“I\u00a0<\/span>am\u00a0<\/span><\/span>adamantly\u00a0<\/span><\/span>refusing\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>serve\u00a0<\/span><\/span>on\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>committee\u00a0<\/span><\/span>whose\u00a0<\/span><\/span>terms\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>reference\u00a0<\/span><\/span>have\u00a0<\/span>been\u00a0<\/span><\/span>crafted\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>ensure\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>accuracy\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>its\u00a0<\/span><\/span>findings.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>It\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>complete\u00a0<\/span><\/span>eyewash,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>I’m\u00a0<\/span><\/span>afraid,”\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Chowdhury\u00a0<\/span><\/span>had\u00a0<\/span>written\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>letter.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>government\u00a0<\/span><\/span>statement\u00a0<\/span><\/span>stated\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>panel\u00a0<\/span><\/span>will\u00a0<\/span>start\u00a0<\/span><\/span>working\u00a0<\/span><\/span>right\u00a0<\/span>away\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>offer\u00a0<\/span><\/span>recommendations\u00a0<\/span><\/span>“as\u00a0<\/span><\/span>soon\u00a0<\/span>as\u00a0<\/span><\/span>possible,”\u00a0<\/span><\/span>but\u00a0<\/span>it\u00a0<\/span><\/span>did\u00a0<\/span>not\u00a0<\/span>give\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>deadline\u00a0<\/span><\/span>for\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>submission\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>report.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>opposition\u00a0<\/span><\/span>group\u00a0<\/span><\/span>INDIA,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>which\u00a0<\/span><\/span>held\u00a0<\/span><\/span>its\u00a0<\/span><\/span>conclave\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Mumbai\u00a0<\/span><\/span>on\u00a0<\/span><\/span>September\u00a0<\/span>1,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>was\u00a0<\/span>taken\u00a0<\/span><\/span>aback\u00a0<\/span><\/span>by\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>decision\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>form\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>committee\u00a0<\/span><\/span>under\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>former\u00a0<\/span>president\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Kovind,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>which\u00a0<\/span><\/span>inflamed\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>political\u00a0<\/span>climate\u00a0<\/span><\/span>even\u00a0<\/span>more.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>decision\u00a0<\/span><\/span>had\u00a0<\/span>been\u00a0<\/span><\/span>denounced\u00a0<\/span><\/span>by\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>opposition\u00a0<\/span><\/span>alliance\u00a0<\/span><\/span>as\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>“threat”\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>federal\u00a0<\/span>government\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>nation.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>Subhash\u00a0<\/span><\/span>C.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Kashyap,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>prominent\u00a0<\/span><\/span>attorney,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Harish\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Salve,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Sanjay\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Kothari,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>former\u00a0<\/span>chief\u00a0<\/span><\/span>vigilance\u00a0<\/span><\/span>commissioner,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>are\u00a0<\/span>also\u00a0<\/span><\/span>members\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>committee.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>Arjun\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Ram\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Meghwal,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>law\u00a0<\/span><\/span>minister,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>will\u00a0<\/span>be\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>special\u00a0<\/span><\/span>invitee\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>committee\u00a0<\/span>meetings,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>while\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Niten\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Chandra,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>law\u00a0<\/span><\/span>secretary,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>will\u00a0<\/span>serve\u00a0<\/span><\/span>as\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>panel’s\u00a0<\/span><\/span>secretary.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>committee\u00a0<\/span><\/span>will\u00a0<\/span>review\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>make\u00a0<\/span><\/span>recommendations\u00a0<\/span><\/span>for\u00a0<\/span>specific\u00a0<\/span><\/span>revisions\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Representation\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>People\u00a0<\/span>Act,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>Constitution,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>any\u00a0<\/span><\/span>other\u00a0<\/span>laws\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>regulations\u00a0<\/span><\/span>that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>would\u00a0<\/span>need\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>be\u00a0<\/span><\/span>changed\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>order\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>hold\u00a0<\/span><\/span>simultaneous\u00a0<\/span><\/span>elections.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Additionally,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>it\u00a0<\/span><\/span>has\u00a0<\/span>been\u00a0<\/span><\/span>asked\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>“specifically\u00a0<\/span><\/span>suggest\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>phases\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>time-frame\u00a0<\/span><\/span>within\u00a0<\/span>which\u00a0<\/span><\/span>simultaneous\u00a0<\/span>elections\u00a0<\/span><\/span>may\u00a0<\/span>be\u00a0<\/span><\/span>held\u00a0<\/span><\/span>if\u00a0<\/span>they\u00a0<\/span><\/span>cannot\u00a0<\/span>be\u00a0<\/span>held\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>one\u00a0<\/span><\/span>go”\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>suggest\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>framework\u00a0<\/span><\/span>for\u00a0<\/span><\/span>synchronising\u00a0<\/span><\/span>elections.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>Additionally,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>it\u00a0<\/span><\/span>will\u00a0<\/span>assess\u00a0<\/span><\/span>whether\u00a0<\/span><\/span>state\u00a0<\/span>ratification\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>constitutional\u00a0<\/span>amendments\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>necessary\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>make\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>recommendation.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>Certain\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Constitutional\u00a0<\/span><\/span>modifications\u00a0<\/span><\/span>must\u00a0<\/span>be\u00a0<\/span><\/span>ratified\u00a0<\/span><\/span>by\u00a0<\/span><\/span>state\u00a0<\/span>assembly\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>majority\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>states.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>committee\u00a0<\/span><\/span>will\u00a0<\/span>also\u00a0<\/span><\/span>examine\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>make\u00a0<\/span><\/span>recommendations\u00a0<\/span><\/span>for\u00a0<\/span><\/span>potential\u00a0<\/span><\/span>responses\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>events\u00a0<\/span><\/span>like\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>hung\u00a0<\/span><\/span>house,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>adoption\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>motion\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>no\u00a0<\/span>confidence,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>defections,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>or\u00a0<\/span><\/span>any\u00a0<\/span>other\u00a0<\/span><\/span>similar\u00a0<\/span><\/span>occurrence\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>case\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>concurrent\u00a0<\/span><\/span>elections.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>Additionally,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>“necessary\u00a0<\/span><\/span>safeguards\u00a0<\/span><\/span>for\u00a0<\/span>ensuring\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>continuity\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>cycle\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>simultaneous\u00a0<\/span><\/span>elections”\u00a0<\/span><\/span>as\u00a0<\/span>well\u00a0<\/span>as\u00a0<\/span><\/span>“necessary\u00a0<\/span><\/span>amendments\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Constitution\u00a0<\/span><\/span>so\u00a0<\/span><\/span>that\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>cycle\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>simultaneous\u00a0<\/span>elections\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>not\u00a0<\/span><\/span>disturbed”\u00a0<\/span><\/span>are\u00a0<\/span>requested\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>panel.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>panel\u00a0<\/span><\/span>will\u00a0<\/span>also\u00a0<\/span>discuss\u00a0<\/span><\/span>logistics\u00a0<\/span><\/span>since\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>extensive\u00a0<\/span><\/span>election\u00a0<\/span><\/span>will\u00a0<\/span>require\u00a0<\/span><\/span>more\u00a0<\/span>electronic\u00a0<\/span><\/span>voting\u00a0<\/span>machines\u00a0<\/span><\/span>(EVMs),\u00a0<\/span><\/span>paper-trail\u00a0<\/span><\/span>machines,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>polling\u00a0<\/span>places,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>security\u00a0<\/span>personnel.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>adoption\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>single\u00a0<\/span><\/span>electoral\u00a0<\/span><\/span>roll\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>electoral\u00a0<\/span><\/span>identity\u00a0<\/span>cards\u00a0<\/span><\/span>for\u00a0<\/span><\/span>voter\u00a0<\/span>identification\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in\u00a0<\/span><\/span>elections\u00a0<\/span><\/span>for\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>Lok\u00a0<\/span>Sabha,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>state\u00a0<\/span><\/span>legislative\u00a0<\/span><\/span>assemblies,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>municipalities,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>panchayats\u00a0<\/span><\/span>will\u00a0<\/span>also\u00a0<\/span>be\u00a0<\/span><\/span>examined.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>A\u00a0<\/span><\/span>shared\u00a0<\/span><\/span>electoral\u00a0<\/span><\/span>roll\u00a0<\/span><\/span>will\u00a0<\/span>help\u00a0<\/span><\/span>cut\u00a0<\/span><\/span>costs\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>avoid\u00a0<\/span><\/span>people\u00a0<\/span>from\u00a0<\/span><\/span>being\u00a0<\/span>deployed\u00a0<\/span><\/span>for\u00a0<\/span><\/span>work\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>another\u00a0<\/span>agency\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>already\u00a0<\/span>engaged\u00a0<\/span><\/span>on,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>according\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>recent\u00a0<\/span>report\u00a0<\/span><\/span>from\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>legislative\u00a0<\/span><\/span>committee.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>State\u00a0<\/span><\/span>election\u00a0<\/span><\/span>commissioners\u00a0<\/span><\/span>(SECs)\u00a0<\/span><\/span>conduct\u00a0<\/span><\/span>local\u00a0<\/span><\/span>body\u00a0<\/span><\/span>elections,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>whereas\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>Election\u00a0<\/span>Commission\u00a0<\/span>(EC)\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>required\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>conduct\u00a0<\/span><\/span>parliamentary\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>assembly\u00a0<\/span><\/span>elections.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>According\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Constitution,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>EC\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>SECs\u00a0<\/span><\/span>are\u00a0<\/span>different\u00a0<\/span><\/span>organisations\u00a0<\/span><\/span>with\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>set\u00a0<\/span><\/span>mission.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>Elections\u00a0<\/span><\/span>for\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>Lok\u00a0<\/span>Sabha\u00a0<\/span><\/span>(543\u00a0<\/span><\/span>MPs),\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Vidhan\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Sabha\u00a0<\/span><\/span>(4,120\u00a0<\/span><\/span>MLAs),\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>panchayats\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>municipalities\u00a0<\/span><\/span>(30\u00a0<\/span><\/span>lakh\u00a0<\/span><\/span>members)\u00a0<\/span><\/span>were\u00a0<\/span>initially\u00a0<\/span>proposed\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>be\u00a0<\/span><\/span>held\u00a0<\/span><\/span>concurrently.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>notification\u00a0<\/span><\/span>noted\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>from\u00a0<\/span><\/span>1951\u20131952\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>1967,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>when\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>cycle\u00a0<\/span><\/span>was\u00a0<\/span>broken,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>elections\u00a0<\/span><\/span>for\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>Lok\u00a0<\/span>Sabha\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>legislative\u00a0<\/span>assemblies\u00a0<\/span><\/span>were\u00a0<\/span>generally\u00a0<\/span><\/span>held\u00a0<\/span><\/span>at\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>same\u00a0<\/span><\/span>time.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Today,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>elections\u00a0<\/span><\/span>are\u00a0<\/span>held\u00a0<\/span><\/span>nearly\u00a0<\/span><\/span>every\u00a0<\/span>year\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>several\u00a0<\/span>times\u00a0<\/span><\/span>within\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>year,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>requiring\u00a0<\/span><\/span>significant\u00a0<\/span>expenditures\u00a0<\/span><\/span>from\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>government\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>other\u00a0<\/span><\/span>stakeholders.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>Additionally,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>it\u00a0<\/span><\/span>causes\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>security\u00a0<\/span>forces\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>other\u00a0<\/span><\/span>election\u00a0<\/span>officials\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>be\u00a0<\/span><\/span>diverted\u00a0<\/span><\/span>from\u00a0<\/span><\/span>their\u00a0<\/span>main\u00a0<\/span>responsibilities\u00a0<\/span><\/span>for\u00a0<\/span><\/span>noticeably\u00a0<\/span><\/span>longer\u00a0<\/span>periods\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>time.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>It\u00a0<\/span><\/span>said\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>frequent\u00a0<\/span><\/span>polls\u00a0<\/span><\/span>interfere\u00a0<\/span><\/span>with\u00a0<\/span><\/span>developmental\u00a0<\/span>efforts\u00a0<\/span><\/span>because\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>Model\u00a0<\/span>Code\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Conduct\u00a0<\/span><\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>applied\u00a0<\/span><\/span>too\u00a0<\/span>strictly.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>Kovind\u00a0<\/span><\/span>had\u00a0<\/span>recently\u00a0<\/span>received\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>briefing\u00a0<\/span><\/span>on\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>panel’s\u00a0<\/span><\/span>terms\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>reference\u00a0<\/span><\/span>from\u00a0<\/span><\/span>top\u00a0<\/span><\/span>law\u00a0<\/span><\/span>ministry\u00a0<\/span><\/span>officials.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>Following\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>panel’s\u00a0<\/span><\/span>notification,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Kovind\u00a0<\/span><\/span>had\u00a0<\/span>also\u00a0<\/span>met\u00a0<\/span><\/span>with\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Shah\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Meghwal.<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span>Their\u00a0<\/span>encounter\u00a0<\/span><\/span>with\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Kovind\u00a0<\/span><\/span>was\u00a0<\/span>referred\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>as\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>“courtesy\u00a0<\/span><\/span>call”\u00a0<\/span><\/span>by\u00a0<\/span><\/span>sources.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Panel
Panel on simultaneous polls holds first meeting<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NEW DELHI: The\u00a0high-level\u00a0committee\u00a0established\u00a0by\u00a0former\u00a0president\u00a0Ram\u00a0Nath\u00a0Kovind\u00a0to\u00a0examine\u00a0the\u00a0viability\u00a0of\u00a0simultaneous\u00a0elections\u00a0met\u00a0here\u00a0on\u00a0Saturday\u00a0to\u00a0decide\u00a0on\u00a0its\u00a0course\u00a0of\u00a0action\u00a0and\u00a0talk\u00a0on\u00a0how\u00a0to\u00a0hold\u00a0stakeholder\u00a0consultations. The\u00a0eight-member\u00a0“high-level”\u00a0group\u00a0was\u00a0notified\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0government\u00a0on\u00a0September\u00a02\u00a0to\u00a0look\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0subject\u00a0of\u00a0holding\u00a0simultaneous\u00a0elections\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0Lok\u00a0Sabha,\u00a0state\u00a0assemblies,\u00a0municipalities,\u00a0and\u00a0panchayats\u00a0and\u00a0to\u00a0give\u00a0suggestions\u00a0as\u00a0soon\u00a0as\u00a0possible. People\u00a0with\u00a0knowledge\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0situation\u00a0described\u00a0the\u00a0meeting\u00a0as\u00a0introductory\u00a0in\u00a0nature\u00a0and\u00a0said\u00a0it\u00a0was\u00a0called\u00a0to\u00a0talk\u00a0about\u00a0the\u00a0plan\u00a0for\u00a0carrying\u00a0out\u00a0the\u00a0panel’s\u00a0mandate. The\u00a0meeting’s\u00a0agenda\u00a0included\u00a0the\u00a0creation\u00a0of\u00a0working\u00a0papers,\u00a0the\u00a0process\u00a0for\u00a0consulting\u00a0with\u00a0stakeholders,\u00a0and\u00a0research\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0topic\u00a0in\u00a0preparation\u00a0for\u00a0an\u00a0in-depth\u00a0discussion. The\u00a0group\u00a0includes\u00a0the\u00a0Home\u00a0Minister\u00a0Amit\u00a0Shah,\u00a0the\u00a0former\u00a0opposition\u00a0leader\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0Rajya\u00a0Sabha\u00a0Ghulam\u00a0Nabi\u00a0Azad,\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0former\u00a0chairman\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Finance\u00a0Commission\u00a0N\u00a0K\u00a0Singh. Adhir\u00a0Ranjan\u00a0Chowdhury,\u00a0the\u00a0leader\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Congress\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0Lok\u00a0Sabha,\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0participant. He\u00a0did,\u00a0however,\u00a0deny\u00a0Shah’s\u00a0invitation\u00a0to\u00a0join\u00a0the\u00a0panel\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0letter. “I\u00a0am\u00a0adamantly\u00a0refusing\u00a0to\u00a0serve\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0committee\u00a0whose\u00a0terms\u00a0of\u00a0reference\u00a0have\u00a0been\u00a0crafted\u00a0to\u00a0ensure\u00a0the\u00a0accuracy\u00a0of\u00a0its\u00a0findings. It\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0complete\u00a0eyewash,\u00a0I’m\u00a0afraid,”\u00a0Chowdhury\u00a0had\u00a0written\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0letter. The\u00a0government\u00a0statement\u00a0stated\u00a0that\u00a0the\u00a0panel\u00a0will\u00a0start\u00a0working\u00a0right\u00a0away\u00a0and\u00a0offer\u00a0recommendations\u00a0“as\u00a0soon\u00a0as\u00a0possible,”\u00a0but\u00a0it\u00a0did\u00a0not\u00a0give\u00a0a\u00a0deadline\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0submission\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0report. The\u00a0opposition\u00a0group\u00a0INDIA,\u00a0which\u00a0held\u00a0its\u00a0conclave\u00a0in\u00a0Mumbai\u00a0on\u00a0September\u00a01,\u00a0was\u00a0taken\u00a0aback\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0decision\u00a0to\u00a0form\u00a0a\u00a0committee\u00a0under\u00a0the\u00a0former\u00a0president\u00a0Kovind,\u00a0which\u00a0inflamed\u00a0the\u00a0political\u00a0climate\u00a0even\u00a0more. The\u00a0decision\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0denounced\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0opposition\u00a0alliance\u00a0as\u00a0a\u00a0“threat”\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0federal\u00a0government\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0nation. Subhash\u00a0C.\u00a0Kashyap,\u00a0a\u00a0prominent\u00a0attorney,\u00a0Harish\u00a0Salve,\u00a0and\u00a0Sanjay\u00a0Kothari,\u00a0a\u00a0former\u00a0chief\u00a0vigilance\u00a0commissioner,\u00a0are\u00a0also\u00a0members\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0committee. Arjun\u00a0Ram\u00a0Meghwal,\u00a0the\u00a0law\u00a0minister,\u00a0will\u00a0be\u00a0a\u00a0special\u00a0invitee\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0committee\u00a0meetings,\u00a0while\u00a0Niten\u00a0Chandra,\u00a0the\u00a0law\u00a0secretary,\u00a0will\u00a0serve\u00a0as\u00a0the\u00a0panel’s\u00a0secretary. The\u00a0committee\u00a0will\u00a0review\u00a0and\u00a0make\u00a0recommendations\u00a0for\u00a0specific\u00a0revisions\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0Representation\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0People\u00a0Act,\u00a0the\u00a0Constitution,\u00a0and\u00a0any\u00a0other\u00a0laws\u00a0and\u00a0regulations\u00a0that\u00a0would\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0changed\u00a0in\u00a0order\u00a0to\u00a0hold\u00a0simultaneous\u00a0elections.Additionally,\u00a0it\u00a0has\u00a0been\u00a0asked\u00a0to\u00a0“specifically\u00a0suggest\u00a0the\u00a0phases\u00a0and\u00a0time-frame\u00a0within\u00a0which\u00a0simultaneous\u00a0elections\u00a0may\u00a0be\u00a0held\u00a0if\u00a0they\u00a0cannot\u00a0be\u00a0held\u00a0in\u00a0one\u00a0go”\u00a0and\u00a0to\u00a0suggest\u00a0a\u00a0framework\u00a0for\u00a0synchronising\u00a0elections. Additionally,\u00a0it\u00a0will\u00a0assess\u00a0whether\u00a0state\u00a0ratification\u00a0of\u00a0constitutional\u00a0amendments\u00a0is\u00a0necessary\u00a0and\u00a0make\u00a0a\u00a0recommendation. Certain\u00a0Constitutional\u00a0modifications\u00a0must\u00a0be\u00a0ratified\u00a0by\u00a0state\u00a0assembly\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0majority\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0states. The\u00a0committee\u00a0will\u00a0also\u00a0examine\u00a0and\u00a0make\u00a0recommendations\u00a0for\u00a0potential\u00a0responses\u00a0to\u00a0events\u00a0like\u00a0a\u00a0hung\u00a0house,\u00a0the\u00a0adoption\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0motion\u00a0of\u00a0no\u00a0confidence,\u00a0defections,\u00a0or\u00a0any\u00a0other\u00a0similar\u00a0occurrence\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0case\u00a0of\u00a0concurrent\u00a0elections. Additionally,\u00a0“necessary\u00a0safeguards\u00a0for\u00a0ensuring\u00a0the\u00a0continuity\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0cycle\u00a0of\u00a0simultaneous\u00a0elections”\u00a0as\u00a0well\u00a0as\u00a0“necessary\u00a0amendments\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0Constitution\u00a0so\u00a0that\u00a0the\u00a0cycle\u00a0of\u00a0simultaneous\u00a0elections\u00a0is\u00a0not\u00a0disturbed”\u00a0are\u00a0requested\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0panel. The\u00a0panel\u00a0will\u00a0also\u00a0discuss\u00a0logistics\u00a0since\u00a0the\u00a0extensive\u00a0election\u00a0will\u00a0require\u00a0more\u00a0electronic\u00a0voting\u00a0machines\u00a0(EVMs),\u00a0paper-trail\u00a0machines,\u00a0polling\u00a0places,\u00a0and\u00a0security\u00a0personnel. The\u00a0adoption\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0single\u00a0electoral\u00a0roll\u00a0and\u00a0electoral\u00a0identity\u00a0cards\u00a0for\u00a0voter\u00a0identification\u00a0in\u00a0elections\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0Lok\u00a0Sabha,\u00a0state\u00a0legislative\u00a0assemblies,\u00a0municipalities,\u00a0and\u00a0panchayats\u00a0will\u00a0also\u00a0be\u00a0examined. A\u00a0shared\u00a0electoral\u00a0roll\u00a0will\u00a0help\u00a0cut\u00a0costs\u00a0and\u00a0avoid\u00a0people\u00a0from\u00a0being\u00a0deployed\u00a0for\u00a0work\u00a0that\u00a0another\u00a0agency\u00a0is\u00a0already\u00a0engaged\u00a0on,\u00a0according\u00a0to\u00a0a\u00a0recent\u00a0report\u00a0from\u00a0a\u00a0legislative\u00a0committee. State\u00a0election\u00a0commissioners\u00a0(SECs)\u00a0conduct\u00a0local\u00a0body\u00a0elections,\u00a0whereas\u00a0the\u00a0Election\u00a0Commission\u00a0(EC)\u00a0is\u00a0required\u00a0to\u00a0conduct\u00a0parliamentary\u00a0and\u00a0assembly\u00a0elections. According\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0Constitution,\u00a0the\u00a0EC\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0SECs\u00a0are\u00a0different\u00a0organisations\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0set\u00a0mission. Elections\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0Lok\u00a0Sabha\u00a0(543\u00a0MPs),\u00a0Vidhan\u00a0Sabha\u00a0(4,120\u00a0MLAs),\u00a0and\u00a0panchayats\u00a0and\u00a0municipalities\u00a0(30\u00a0lakh\u00a0members)\u00a0were\u00a0initially\u00a0proposed\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0held\u00a0concurrently.The\u00a0notification\u00a0noted\u00a0that\u00a0from\u00a01951\u20131952\u00a0to\u00a01967,\u00a0when\u00a0the\u00a0cycle\u00a0was\u00a0broken,\u00a0elections\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0Lok\u00a0Sabha\u00a0and\u00a0legislative\u00a0assemblies\u00a0were\u00a0generally\u00a0held\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0same\u00a0time.\u00a0Today,\u00a0elections\u00a0are\u00a0held\u00a0nearly\u00a0every\u00a0year\u00a0and\u00a0several\u00a0times\u00a0within\u00a0a\u00a0year,\u00a0requiring\u00a0significant\u00a0expenditures\u00a0from\u00a0the\u00a0government\u00a0and\u00a0other\u00a0stakeholders. Additionally,\u00a0it\u00a0causes\u00a0the\u00a0security\u00a0forces\u00a0and\u00a0other\u00a0election\u00a0officials\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0diverted\u00a0from\u00a0their\u00a0main\u00a0responsibilities\u00a0for\u00a0noticeably\u00a0longer\u00a0periods\u00a0of\u00a0time. It\u00a0said\u00a0that\u00a0frequent\u00a0polls\u00a0interfere\u00a0with\u00a0developmental\u00a0efforts\u00a0because\u00a0the\u00a0Model\u00a0Code\u00a0of\u00a0Conduct\u00a0is\u00a0applied\u00a0too\u00a0strictly. Kovind\u00a0had\u00a0recently\u00a0received\u00a0a\u00a0briefing\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0panel’s\u00a0terms\u00a0of\u00a0reference\u00a0from\u00a0top\u00a0law\u00a0ministry\u00a0officials. Following\u00a0the\u00a0panel’s\u00a0notification,\u00a0Kovind\u00a0had\u00a0also\u00a0met\u00a0with\u00a0Shah\u00a0and\u00a0Meghwal. Their\u00a0encounter\u00a0with\u00a0Kovind\u00a0was\u00a0referred\u00a0to\u00a0as\u00a0a\u00a0“courtesy\u00a0call”\u00a0by\u00a0sources.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[67,89,54],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3107","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-header","category-national","category-political"],"gutentor_comment":0,"yoast_head":"\nPanel on simultaneous polls holds first meeting<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"\u00a0high-level\u00a0committee\u00a0established\u00a0by\u00a0former\u00a0president\u00a0Ram\u00a0Nath\u00a0Kovind\u00a0to\u00a0examine\u00a0the\u00a0viability\u00a0of\u00a0simultaneous\u00a0elections\" \/>\n<meta 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