“As part of this consultation process, suggestions and considered views are solicited from the citizens, political parties, eminent jurists like former Chief Justices of Supreme Court and High Courts, constitutional experts, former CECs among others… The consultation process shall continue in the coming days,” the statement read.

The committee had on January 5 invited suggestions from the public for a period of 10 days. It had also written to five of the recent former CECs for their views, as per sources. The Law Ministry had set up the committee under Kovind in September last year to recommend ways to implement simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and local bodies.