The high-level panel, headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind to explore the feasibility of the ‘one nation, one election’ idea, decided to seek views from political parties and the law commission at its first meeting.
Home minister Amit Shah, law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, former leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, former finance commission chairman NK Singh, former Lok Sabha secretary general Subhash C Kashyap, and former chief vigilance commissioner Sanjay Kothari attended the meeting. Noted lawyer Harish Salve joined virtually.
Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was not present. He had written to Shah after being included in the panel "declining to serve on the committee" in protest against the exclusion of Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.
In order to "seek suggestions or viewpoints on the issue of simultaneous elections in the country," the statement said the members decided to invite opinions of recognised national parties, parties with governments in states, parties with representatives in Parliament, other recognised state parties, and the law commission.