In response to a question on the idea of “one nation, one election” in Bhopal, Kumar stated that the RP Act and constitutional provisions oblige the poll commission to “deliver elections before the time.”
Rajiv Kumar, the chief election commissioner, talks at a press conference in New Delhi on March 29, 2023, to announce the dates of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections. PTI Image/File
According to PTI, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar stated on Wednesday that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is prepared to operate in accordance with the Representative of the People (RP) operation and constitutional requirements in the framework of “one nation, one election.”
In response to a question on the idea of “one nation, one election” in Bhopal, Kumar stated that the RP Act and constitutional provisions oblige the poll commission to “deliver elections before the time.”
Legal requirements state that this period of time is five years from the day of the first Parliamentary session following the formation of a new administration. Six months before the conclusion of this period, the ECI may announce the general elections, according to Kumar. Elections for the assembly follow the same rules.
According to him, the ECI is authorized and prepared to conduct elections in accordance with the law.
In order to engage with political parties, the government, and enforcement agencies about election preparation in Madhya Pradesh, where elections are scheduled for November-December, Kumar and other top ECI officials traveled to Bhopal.
The CEC also stated that the state, which has just under 5.5 crore voters, will issue its final voter list on October 5.
The issue of “one nation, one election” was brought to the forefront last week when the Centre established an eight-member team to be chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind to examine the viability of holding simultaneous polls across the country.
The Supreme Court has taken up the problem of freebies in elections, according to the CEC, which also noted that the top electoral body had produced a thorough report in this regard.