New Delhi: The High-Level Committee, led by Shri Ram Nath Kovind, former President of India, convened its third meeting in New Delhi today to discuss issues related to holding simultaneous elections in the country and make relevant recommendations. The committee, consisting of prominent members such as Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Shri N. K. Singh, Dr. Subhash C. Kashyap, and Shri Sanjay Kothari, addressed various aspects of this complex matter.
During the meeting, the committee confirmed the minutes of the second meeting held on October 25, 2023, and discussed the actions taken based on the decisions made during that session. Dr. Niten Chandra, the committee’s secretary, provided updates on the follow-up actions taken since the second meeting.
A significant development highlighted during the meeting was the issuance of a public notice on January 5 in 105 leading newspapers across the country. The notice invited suggestions from citizens for appropriate changes in the existing legal-administrative framework to enable simultaneous elections. The deadline for submitting suggestions was set for January 15, and a total of 20,972 responses were received. Remarkably, 81% of the respondents affirmed the idea of simultaneous elections.
The committee also sought suggestions from 46 political parties, with responses received from 17 parties to date. The Election Commission of India also submitted its recommendations, all of which were noted and considered by the committee.
Additionally, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, the committee’s chairman, initiated consultations with eminent jurists, former Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and High Courts, former Chief Election Commissioners of India, and heads of prominent industry bodies like the Bar Council of India, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, and CII. The committee is scheduled to hold its next meeting on January 27 to continue deliberations on this crucial matter.
