Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 15: Following a high-level panel's recommendation for simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies, former Chief Minister and Vice-President of the National Conference, Omar Abdullah, stressed that the “one-nation one-election” initiative should commence from Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar Abdullah emphasized the significance of initiating the “one-nation one-election” process in Jammu and Kashmir, stating that the region's upcoming assembly elections provided an opportune moment to set a precedent.
He highlighted the absence of an elected government in Jammu and Kashmir for several years, underscoring the need for democratic restoration through timely parliamentary and assembly elections.
Meanwhile, the High-level Committee on simultaneous elections, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, submitted its exhaustive 18,626-page report to President Droupadi Murmu. The report, compiled after 191 days of consultations with stakeholders and experts, reflects a broad consensus on the concept of simultaneous elections.
The committee engaged with 47 political parties, receiving feedback from 32 in favor of simultaneous elections. Additionally, 21,558 responses were collected from citizens across India, with 80% supporting the initiative. Expert opinions, including those from former Chief Justices of India and Election Commissioners, further informed the committee's recommendations.
The committee proposes a two-step approach towards simultaneous elections. Initially, elections for the House of the People and State Legislative Assemblies would be synchronized. Subsequently, elections for Municipalities and Panchayats would align with parliamentary and state assembly polls within a hundred days.
Furthermore, the committee advocates for a unified electoral roll and Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) across all levels of government elections, streamlining the electoral process.
In essence, while Omar Abdullah advocates for initiating “one-nation one-election” from Jammu and Kashmir, the comprehensive recommendations of the high-level committee signal a concerted effort towards electoral reform at the national level. |
