The high-level committee on 'one nation, one election' today submitted its report to President Droupadi Murmu, pitching for simultaneous polls across the country
"The committee is of unanimous opinion that simultaneous polls should be held," the panel led by former President Ram Nath Kovind said in its report.
At first, Lok Sabha elections and state polls should be held simultaneously followed by synchronised local body polls within 100 days, the report - which has been accessed by NDTV - said.
"Simultaneous elections will transform electoral process and governance. The concept can help realise aspirations of 'India, that is Bharat', the panel said.
The panel also recommended preparation of a common electoral roll and voter ID cards by the Election Commission of India in consultation with state election authorities.
In India, the general elections to elect the members of Parliament and state assembly polls are held separately when the tenure of the incumbent government comes to an end or it gets dissolved for some reason.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken on the need for 'One Nation, One Election' on several occasions, and it was also a part of the party's manifesto for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
The other members of the panel led by Mr Kovind are - Home Minister Amit Shah, former leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, former finance commission chairman N K Singh, former Lok Sabha secretary general Subhash Kashyap and senior advocate Harish Salve.
The committee was tasked to analyse and recommend possible solutions linked to simultaneous elections if there is a hung house, no-confidence motion, defection, or any such other event.
Conducting polls simultaneously was the norm in India until 1967 and four elections were held this way. The practice stopped after some state assemblies were dissolved prematurely in 1968-69. The Lok Sabha was also, for the first time, dissolved a year ahead of schedule in 1970 and mid-term elections had been held in 1971.
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