The Law Commission, examining the issue of holding simultaneous elections in the country, may explore the possibility of conducting the three-tier democratic exercise in two phases within a single year. According to sources, in the first phase, Lok Sabha and Assembly polls could be conducted, while in the second phase, local body polls might be organised.
It has sought public discourse on the issue before reaching a final decision. This approach, the sources said, is practical, taking into account the diverse climatic conditions of the country.
In August 2018, the previous Law Commission endorsed the Narendra Modi Government’s proposal to conduct simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha and Assemblies, saying it would prevent the country from being in a constant poll mode.
The current Law Commission, headed by Justice (retired) Ritu Raj Awasthi, is in the process of finalising its report on the possibility of conducting assembly and Lok Sabha polls simultaneously. Meanwhile, the high-level committee on ‘One Nation, One Election,’ led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, has been assigned the task of recommending how Lok Sabha, assembly, and local body polls (panchayat, municipalities, zila parishad) can be synchronised.
In consideration of the terms of reference for the Kovind-led panel, the Law Commission has expanded the scope of its study to include the coordination of local body polls alongside national and state elections.
