Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury declines to join ‘one nation, one election’ panel calls it a total eyewash

Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Saturday declined to be part of the One Nation One Election panel which has been mandated by the law commission to recommend ways to implement simultaneous elections in the country.The eight-member committee was notified on Saturday and was given the task to weigh every aspect if simultaneous polls are held.

In a letter addressed to Union home minister Amit Shah, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said he has no hesitation in declining to serve on the committee.   He said the terms of reference have been prepared in such a manner that the conclusion is confirmed -- that is simultaneous elections will happen going forward. "I have no hesitation whatsoever in declining to serve on the committee whose terms of reference have been prepared in a manner to guarantee its conclusions. It is, I am afraid, a total eyewash," Adhir wrote.

The government has notified the eight-member committee to examine and make recommendations at the earliest on the issue of holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, municipalities and panchayats.Under the chairmanship of former president Ram Nath Kovind, the law ministry has formed a high-level committee to study the proposal of simultaneous elections in the country.Union home minister Amit Shah, Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, former leader of opposition Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, former chairman of 15th Finance Commission NK Singh, former Lok Sabha general secretary Subash Kashyap, senior advocate Harish Salve, former chief vigilance commissioner Sanjay Kothari will be members of the committee.