One Nation, One Election: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury declines to be part of panel

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Saturday declined the invitation to be part of the panel which was formed by the central government to examine the possibility of implementing the idea of 'One Nation, One Election'. This comes just hours after it was announced that he would be part of the eight-member panel headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind. In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, "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." The panel was formed a day after sources told India Today that the central government might introduce a 'One Nation, One Election' bill during the special session of Parliament from September 18 to 22. The idea refers to holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and all state assemblies across India.