One nation one polls: ‘One nation, one election’ in national interest, nothing to do with any party: Kovind

Former president Ram Nath Kovind, who heads the committee to explore the possibility of “one country, one election”, said holding simultaneous polls was in the national interest and had nothing to do with any particular political party. . “Holding simultaneous elections will be beneficial for the public as the revenue saved will be used for development work,” the former president, during a private visit here, told reporters on Monday evening.

“I am requesting all the political parties to cooperate as this is in the national interest. No political party has got anything to do with it,” he stressed.

The government formed the high-level eight-member committee, headed by Kovind, earlier this year.

The former president said, “Many committees like the parliamentary committee, Niti Aayog, Election Commission of India, and others have said that the tradition of ‘one nation one election’ needs to be revived in the country.”

“The government has formed a committee for the purpose and made me its chairman. We are working with the people and will give suggestions to the government on how we can re-implement this tradition,” he said. “I have also contacted all the registered national parties and asked for their suggestions. For a while, they all supported it. We are asking all political parties to cooperate as it is in the national interest,” he said. . Asserting that no particular political party would benefit from “one country, one election”, Kovind said, “If implemented, the party in power at the Center will benefit, be it the BJP or the Congress or any other party. There is non-discriminatory.” The biggest beneficiaries will be the common people as the savings will be used for development works, Kovind said.

At the first meeting of the committee in September, the panel outlined the modalities of the committee and decided to invite recognized national parties, parties with state governments, parties with their representatives in Parliament, and other recognized parties. state party to seek their suggestions/views. on the issue of simultaneous elections in the country.

In addition, it said the Committee would also invite the Law Commission of India to make their suggestions/views on the issue.

Over the years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly pushed the idea of ​​simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly polls, and the decision to appoint Kovind to look into it underscores the seriousness the government is getting closer to an election host.