The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) looking into ‘One Nation, One Election’ met 12 Padma awardees from Karnataka on Monday (May 18) to elicit their opinions on holding simultaneous elections in the country.

The JPC was in Bengaluru to hold a consultation with various stakeholders on the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, and The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill on the issue of simultaneous elections in India.

While all of them welcomed the move citing stability, reduction in public expenditure, and more time for governance, two Padma awardees also offered words of caution. “The concept has to be implemented carefully, protecting the democracy and rights of the States,” said K.S. Jayalakshmi, editor of Sanskrit daily Sudharma. Prahlada R. Rao, former DRDO director, said that the elections will be difficult to synchronise, but it is implementable with a proper strategy.

Noted musician and Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej highlighted the impact on the environment amid political instability and insecurity over continuation in public representatives’ terms, and welcomed the policy.