As Adhir declines invitation, a look at the eight-member committee to examine 'One Nation, One Election'

The government on Saturday issued a notification announcing a committee for ‘One Nation, One Election’, naming Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress party's Lok Sabha floor leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury among its members. Chowdhury, however, declined to be part of the Committee, which will be headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind.

“I have no hesitation whatsoever in declining to serve on the Committee whose terms of reference have been prepared in a manner to guarantee its conclusions. It is, I am afraid, a total eyewash,” Chowdhurybsaid in a letter to Shah.

The other members of the Committee include Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission N K Singh, former Lok Sabha secretary general Subhash C. Kashyap, senior advocate Harish Salve and former Chief Vigilance Commissioner Sanjay Kothari as its members.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will be a special invitee of the committee. Niten Chandra, Secretary of the Department of Legal Affairs will be the secretary to the committee. 

The official notification states that the panel will examine the feasibility of simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha as well as state assemblies, municipalities and panchayats and make recommendations regarding the same. It will examine and recommend specific amendments to the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act and other relevant legislations. 

One of the panel’s mandates is to assess the impact of scenarios emerging from a hung House, a no-confidence motion or defections of legislators.

Apart from studying the logistical ramifications of simultaneous elections, the panel will also suggest a framework for the synchronisation of elections. The panel will have to work out a schedule as well as a timeframe and suggest requisite amendments. 

The panel was announced a day after the BJP government announced a special session of Parliament from September 18, leading to speculations in various quarters.