"Welcome steps by PM": Odisha law minister Prithviraj Harichandan welcomes efforts for 'One Nation One Election'

"Former President had submitted the report on One Nation One Election, and lots of speculation is going on. But for One Nation One Election, the money saved, and economic development should be proper. Development process also will smoothly run. It is welcome steps," he said.

Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after paing tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary had said that his government is working towards achieving simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and State assemblies.

We are now working towards One Nation One Election, which will strengthen India's democracy, give optimum outcome of India's resources and the country will gain new momentum in achieving the dream of a developed India. Today, India is moving towards One Nation One Civil Code that is a Secular Civil Code," he said.

Former President of India Ramnath Kovind had led a high-level committee on the issue and submitted a report in favour of holding simultaneous elections in the country.

Notably, on October 6, speaking on the issue at 30th Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial Lecture Kovind said that during the first four electoral cycles of the country, Lok Sabha and state assembly elections were "synchronised," which was later broken in the year 1968.

"Simultaneous elections were the norm in the early years of the republic. Elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies were synchronised during the first four electoral cycles... This cycle of concurrent elections was broken in the year 1968 when several state assemblies were prematurely dissolved by the then Union Government exercising its power under Article 356...Some sections of society have termed simultaneous elections undemocratic and unconstitutional. It is hard to miss the irony when we look into the genesis of the disruption of electoral cycles... Simultaneous elections were the vision of our constitutional forefathers," he said.

Simultaneous elections is a contentious topic since the submission of the report, with Congress President calling the idea as "impossible" on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters, Congress President Kharge said, "What PM Modi has said, he will not do it, because when it comes in the parliament, he has to take everybody into confidence, then only this will happen. This is impossible, 'One Nation One Election' is impossible." (ANI)