The union cabinet, chaired by prime minister Narendra Modi, has accepted the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections under the chairmanship of former president Ram Nath Kovind.

Simultaneous elections: recommendations of high-level committee

*    Elections have been held simultaneously between 1951 and 1967.
*    Law Commission: 170th report (1999): One election to Lok Sabha and all Legislative Assemblies in five years.
*    Parliamentary Committee 79th Report (2015): suggest methods for simultaneous elections in two phases.
*    High Level Committee chaired by Shri Ram Nath Kovind extensively consulted a broad spectrum of stakeholders including political parties and experts.
*    The report is available online at: https://onoe.gov.in
*    Extensive feedback has showed there is widespread support for simultaneous elections in the country.

Recommendations and way forward

*    Implement in two phases.
*    In first phase: conduct Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously.
*    In second phase: Conduct local body elections (panchayat and municipalities) within 100 days of general elections.
*    Common electoral roll for all elections.
*    Will initiate detailed discussions throughout the country.
*    Constitute an implementation group.