In a significant development ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the High Level Committee, led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, has submitted its exhaustive report on ‘One Nation, One Poll’ to President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday.

The comprehensive 18,626 pages-long report is the culmination of extensive consultations with stakeholders, experts, and 191 days of rigorous research since the committee’s inception on September 2, 2023.

Earlier concerns about Constitutional Amendments hindering the implementation of ‘One Nation, One Poll’ were highlighted by the Law Commission of India in January, citing it as one of the major obstacles. The proposal aims to synchronize elections across the country, advocating for simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

The formation of the committee underscores the government’s earnestness in addressing this complex issue, which significantly impacts at least 18 states where state elections are notably disparate from Lok Sabha elections.

The concept of ‘One Nation, One Poll’ or ‘One Nation, One Election’ was initially floated in the 1980s, with the Election Commission proposing in 1983 the development of a system enabling simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.

In a significant endorsement of the idea, the Justice B P Jeevan Reddy-led Law Commission, in its 170th report in May 1999, advocated for the return to a scenario where elections to Lok Sabha and all Legislative Assemblies are held concurrently.