One Nation, One Election: Kovind-led panel discusses common ID, electoral roll
Hindustan TimesThe panel headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind to discuss the feasibility of holding simultaneous elections across the country met for the first time on Saturday and discussed several aspects, including the possibility of a common voter ID card and electoral roll and the necessary modifications required in laws, people familiar with the matter said. The eight-member high-level committee was announced by the Union government on September 2 to look into how simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, municipalities and panchayats can be held in the country, a plan that could save money, but one that also involves many legal and procedural complications. Union home minister Amit Shah, law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, former leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Finance Commission chairman NK Singh, former Lok Sabha secretary general Subhash C Kashyap and former chief vigilance commissioner Sanjay Kothari attended the meeting, a government statement said, adding that noted lawyer Harish Salve joined the meeting virtually. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on September 3 condemned the idea of one nation, one election, calling it an attack on India, which is a Union of states.