Kovind panel to first seek views of parties on 'one poll'
Lok Sabha and state assemblies together.
Besides this, there were suggestions in the meeting to also consult the Election Commission, study Article 356 of the Constitution and rename the committee as 'One Nation One Election' panel, sources said.
Legal luminaries in the panel suggested the constitution only talks about holding elections after five years and there is no such provision which bars from holding simultaneous polls, they said.
In its first meeting, the panel decided to seek the views of national parties and those that run state administrations, parties with federal lawmakers, and other recognised state parties on holding polls at the same time throughout the nation — across the tiers of executive hierarchy.
The committee also decided to approach the Law Commission for its «suggestions/viewpoints» on the subject. The preliminary meeting was held in the capital under the Chairmanship of Ram Nath Kovind, former President.
The meeting was also attended by Amit Shah, Union Home Minister; Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Minister for Law and Justice; Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Leader of Opposition; N.
K. Singh, former Chairman, 15th Finance Commission; Dr.
Subhash C. Kashyap, former Secretary General, Lok Sabha and Sanjay Kothari, former Chief Vigilance Commissioner.
Senior advocate Harish Salve also attended the meeting virtually.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, leader of the single largest party in Opposition, Lok Sabha, did not attend the meeting. Former President Kovind outlined the agenda of the meeting.
A committee was constituted by the Centre on September 2.
