NEW DELHI — Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde are likely to be part of the joint committee of Parliament set to examine the feasibility of holding simultaneous elections in India. The committee will be tasked with analyzing the potential advantages and challenges of conducting both Lok Sabha and state assembly elections at the same time.

The government has been advocating for simultaneous polls, arguing that it could save costs, reduce the electoral burden on security forces, and ensure better governance. The joint committee will gather inputs from various political parties, experts, and stakeholders before making its recommendations.

Priyanka Gandhi and Shrikant Shinde are expected to represent major political parties in the committee discussions. While Congress and Shiv Sena have expressed cautious support for the idea, the opposition parties have raised concerns about the practical challenges and the potential impact on federalism.

The final list of committee members is expected to be announced soon. A detailed report on the proposal will follow the committee deliberations.

The committee formation has sparked considerable interest, with the idea of simultaneous elections continuing to be a topic of intense debate in political circles.