Simultaneous election model is competent for all-round progress of Indian population: Former President Ramnath Kovind

Speaking at an event in West Bengal's Kolkata on Tuesday, the former President said that after the implementation of this model, the country will increase by 1-1.5% automatically.

"For the all-round progress of the Indian population, this model is competent. In other aspects also, adopting this model will help the nation. We made a committee of world-class economists and placed the report in front of them.... When it will be implemented, the GDP growth ratio of the country will increase by 1-1.5% automatically," he said.

Notably, the high-level committee on simultaneous elections, which submitted its report to President Droupadi Murmu, was headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind.

The report, comprising 18,626 pages, is an outcome of extensive consultations with stakeholders, experts, and research work of 191 days since its constitution on 2 September, 2023.

Further describing Indian economic growth, Ram Nath Kovind said, "The day our economy rises to 10%-11%, our country will be in line with the top 3rd-4th economies of the world."

Meanwhile, the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, and 'the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, were formally introduced in Lok Sabha after members voted on it. The bill proposes 'One Nation, One Election,' or simultaneous elections to both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The bill has been sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed discussions.

On Tuesday, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha announced the result of the vote on the introduction of the bill in the house. The vote showed 269 members in favour (Ayes) and 196 against (Noes). This followed Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal's formal introduction of the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, on 'One Nation, One Election' and his agreement to send the bill to a JPC in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement. (ANI)