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<\/div>\nThe process ended as new states started emerging and some old ones were reorganised.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
New Delhi: <\/b><\/p>\n
The concept of “One Nation, One Election” is not new. In fact, as experts point out, it is as old as our Constitution.<\/p>\n
After the Constitution was adopted in 1950, polls to the Lok Sabha and all state assemblies were held simultaneously every five years between 1951 and 1967.\u00a0<\/p>\n
India voted simultaneously for the Centre and states in 1952, 1957, 1962 and 1967.<\/p>\n
The process ended as new states started emerging and some old ones were reorganised. It was completely discontinued after some legislative assemblies were dissolved in 1968-69.<\/p>\n
The idea to revert to simultaneous polls was suggested in the annual report of the Election Commission in 1983. Later, the Law Commission report referred to it in 1999.<\/p>\n
In 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP-led government came to power, the party made a strong pitch for “one nation, one election”. The government also frequently talked about its intention to implement it.<\/p>\n
The Law Commission in 2018 submitted a draft report backing the idea of simultaneous polls. The commission also recommended changes to the electoral laws and constitutional provisions and examined the legal and constitutional constraints.<\/p>\n
The Law Commission says simultaneous elections can only be held through appropriate amendments to the Constitution. It also said that at least 50% of the states must ratify the constitutional amendment.<\/p>\n
In 2019, BJP leader Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, a former Rajya Sabha MP, was tasked by the party’s leadership with raising awareness about the concept of “one nation, one poll” and evaluating the idea. A \u00a0two-day seminar was organised and consultations took place. Later that year a report was submitted to the Prime Minister\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0In 2020, while addressing the concluding session of the All India presiding officers conference, PM Modi again pitched for simultaneous polls across the nation and one voters’ list<\/p>\n<\/div>\n