The Narendra Modi government’s ambitious ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill is poised for discussion during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, following approval by the Union Cabinet on Thursday. The bill aims to synchronize Lok Sabha and state assembly elections, making it a pivotal part of the government’s legislative agenda.
This move aligns with the recommendations of a high-level committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which the Cabinet endorsed in September. The proposal envisions the first phase of simultaneous elections between the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, followed by synchronized local body elections within 100 days.
Prime Minister Modi expressed strong support for the initiative, lauding the effort to enhance India’s democratic processes. He also praised former President Kovind for leading the consultations that shaped the recommendations. The initiative is viewed as a way to reduce disruptions caused by frequent elections and could potentially boost the country’s GDP by 1-1.5%, according to economists cited by Kovind.
Support for the bill also came from Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who highlighted the wastage of time and resources due to frequent elections. Chouhan emphasized the disruption it causes to development work and governance, noting that ministers, MPs, and other officials often spend considerable time campaigning instead of focusing on public welfare.
The proposed bill will be referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further review, with hopes that it will streamline the electoral process and improve governance efficiency.
