India's governing BJP says it is pushing ahead with a plan to tear up the schedule of state elections and make everyone vote at the same time once every five years. Opponents tell Namita Singh the mea

The Union Cabinet agreed on Wednesday, September 18, to the recommendations of the high-level committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, fulfilling the BJP's long-standing 'One Nation, One Election' manifesto pledge.

From logistics to planning, conducting elections to the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies together will require significant changes to be carried out in the conduct of polls by the ECI.

It is an uphill task for the government, almost impossible at present. The ruling NDA has 293 out of 545 seats while it needs 364 seats to get the proposals approved by the two-third majority in Lok Sabha. The ruling alliance has 112 seats in the 245-member Rajya Sabha, while it needs 164 votes to get the proposals approved.

India's cabinet has accepted a recommendation to hold simultaneous elections to state assemblies and the national parliament, the information minister said on Wednesday, a move pushed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to improve governance.

The Aam Aadmi Party opposes the Union cabinet's 'One Nation One Election' proposal, advocating instead for monthly elections to ensure accountability. They also call for uniform education and healthcare nationwide.

The issue of One Nation One Election has been on the Bharatiya Janata Party's election manifestoes as part of electoral reforms.

In a big move, the Modi Cabinet has cleared former President Ram Nath Kovind-led panel's recommendations on One Nation One Election.