Govt working on logistics, modalities for panel on 'one nation, one election'
simultaneous polls so that its first meeting could be held, sources said on Wednesday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Minister of State (Independent Charge) Arjun Ram Meghwal on Wednesday met Kovind at his residence here, which sources suggested was a courtesy meeting.
On Saturday, the government notified a high-level committee under Kovind to study and make recommendations on the issue of holding synchronised polls to the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and local bodies.
While Shah is a member of the One nation, One Election' committee, Meghwal is a special invitee. On Sunday, top law ministry officials had briefed Kovind and had sought to know how he would like to go about the mandate of the committee.
Secretary Legal Affairs Niten Chandra, also the secretary of this panel, has been meeting its members.
Officials are working to finalise a location for its office and set up a secretariat also for this committee. There has been a suggestion that if required the meeting could be held in hybrid mode.
The law ministry had notified an eight-member high-level committee on Saturday, which includes Shah, former Leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, senior advocate Harish Salve, former Lok Sabha secretary general Subhash Kashyap, retired IAS officer NK Singh and former CVC Sanjay Kothari.
Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdury who was the only opposition leader on this crucial panel declined to be its part and called the entire exercise an «eyewash».
