New delhi, March 15 -- Former President Ram Nath Kovind led high-level 'One Nation, One Election' poll panel on Thursday recommended simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies as the first step followed by synchronised local body polls within 100 days.

The 18,000-page report submitted to President Droupadi Murmu by Kovind and committee members said simultaneous polls will spur development and social cohesion, deepen "foundations of democratic rubric" and help realise the aspirations of "India that is Bharat".

Kovind was accompanied by other panel members, including Home Minister Amit Shah, former Finance Commission chairman NK Singh, former Lok Sabha secretary general Subhash Kashyap, former leader of Opposition in Ra...