Cabinet accepts recommendations of High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has accepted the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections under the chairmanship of former President Shri Ram Nath Kovind.

Simultaneous elections: recommendations of high-level committee

• Elections have been held simultaneously between 1951 and 1967.

• Law Commission: 170th report (1999): One election to Lok Sabha and all Legislative Assemblies in five years.

• Parliamentary Committee 79th Report (2015): suggest methods for simultaneous elections in two phases.

• High Level Committee chaired by Shri Ram Nath Kovind extensively consulted a broad spectrum of stakeholders including political parties and experts.

• The report is available online at: https://onoe.gov.in

• Extensive feedback has showed there is widespread support for simultaneous elections in the country.

Recommendations and way forward

• Implement in two phases.

• In first phase: conduct Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously.

• In second phase: Conduct local body elections (panchayat and municipalities) within 100 days of general elections.

• Common electoral roll for all elections.

• Will initiate detailed discussions throughout the country.

• Constitute an implementation group.