Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury calls TORs of high-powered committee to examine possibility of ‘one nation, one election’ “total eyewash”

Earlier today, a law ministry resolution had named Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who is leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, a member of the high-powered committee formed to examine the issue of simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies, municipalities and panchayats.

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CHARACTERISING the terms of reference of the 'high-powered committee' formed earlier today "a total eyewash", leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has declined to be part of it.

The government of India has formed the committee to examine the issue of simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies, municipalities and panchayats.

A law ministry resolution states that the committee would be headed by the former President of India Ram Nath Kovind.

The government is of the view that simultaneous elections are desirable in the national interest.

Union home minister, Amit Shah; leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury; former leader of the Opposition, Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad; former chairperson of the 15th Finance Commission, N.K. Singh; former secretary general of Lok Sabha, Subash C. Kashyap; senior advocate Harish Salve; and former Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Sanjay Kothari had been appointed members of the committee.

The committee does not include any former election commissioner.

No deadline has been assigned to the committee, the resolution issued by the government however states that the committee shall commence functioning immediately and make recommendations at the earliest.

The terms of reference of the committee are to:

Examine and make recommendations for holding simultaneous elections to the House of the People (Lok Sabha), state legislative assemblies, municipalities and panchayats.

They have to do this keeping in view the existing framework under the Constitution of India and other statutory provisions.

For that purpose, they will examine and recommend specific amendments to the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the Rules made thereunder and any other law or rules which would require amendments for the purpose of holding simultaneous elections.

The committee will also examine and recommend if the amendments to the Constitution would require ratification by the States.

Besides, the committee will analyse and recommend possible solutions in a scenario of simultaneous elections emerging out of hung House, adoption of no-confidence motion, or defection or any such other event.

The committee will also suggest a framework for synchronisation of elections and, specifically, suggest the phases and time frame within which simultaneous elections may be held if they cannot be held in one go and also suggest any amendments to the Constitution and other laws in this regard and propose such rules that may be required in such circumstances.

The committee will recommend necessary safeguards for ensuring the continuity of the cycle of simultaneous elections and recommend necessary amendments to the Constitution so that the cycle of simultaneous elections is not disturbed.

The committee has also been asked to examine the logistics and manpower required, including EVMs and VVPATs for holding such simultaneous elections.

Lastly, the committee will examine and recommend the modalities of use of a single electoral roll and electoral identity cards for identification of voters in elections to the House of the People (Lok Sabha), State Legislative Assemblies, Municipalities and Panchayats.

The Government resolution cites the 170th Report on Reforms of the Electoral Laws observing that: "This cycle of elections every year, and in the out of season, should be put an end to. We must go back to the situation where the elections to Lok Sabha and all the legislative assemblies are held at once."

Chowdhury has alleged that the terms of reference of the committee "Have been prepared in a manner to guarantee its conclusion".

Chowdhury also points out that the current leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also president of the Indian National Congress, is not a part of the committee.

Terming Kharge's absence from the committee "a deliberate insult to the system of parliamentary democracy", Chowdhury's letter says that he has "no option but to decline" the invitation to be part of the committee.