New Delhi:The first meeting of the 'One Nation, One Election' committee will take place on September 23 (Saturday). While speaking to media today, former President and chairman of the committee, Ram Nath Kovind said, "The first meeting to take place on September 23, 2023".
The announcement on 'One Nation, One Election' was made on August 31. Several political parties, politicians and election experts have been trying to predict and guess the agenda for calling the special session of Parliament since then.
In between, the government on September 1 formed a committee for 'One Nation, One Election' under the leadership of former President Ram Nath Kovind. BJP chief JP Nadda, in this regard, also met the former president at his residence earlier.
Since a committee has been formed on 'One Nation One Election', it has further fueled speculations that a special session of the Parliament is being called to introduce this bill.
Since coming to power in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a strong votary for the idea of simultaneous polls, which include those at local bodies, citing the financial burden caused by almost continuous election cycle and jolt to development work during the polling period.
Ram Nath Kovind too had echoed Modi's view and expressed his support to the idea after becoming President in 2017.
Addressing Parliament, he had said in 2018, "Frequent elections not only impose a huge burden on human resources but also impede the development process due to the promulgation of the model code of conduct."
Like PM Modi, he had called for a sustained debate and expressed hope that all political parties arrive at a consensus on this issue.