“One Nation, One Election Is Our Commitment”: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a senior leader of the BJP, reaffirmed his government’s dedication to fulfilling the promise of “One Nation, One Election,” a cornerstone of the BJP’s electoral agenda. The manifesto released by the BJP, attended by Prime Minister Modi and Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, emphasized the significance of this initiative.

In a recent interview with ANI, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the positive reception of the committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, tasked with preparing a comprehensive report on One Nation, One Election. The manifesto also commits to establishing a unified electoral roll.

Last September, the central government established a high-level Committee to explore the feasibility of simultaneous elections nationwide. The exhaustive report, spanning 18,626 pages, is the result of extensive consultations and research conducted over 191 days since the Committee’s inception.

The Committee’s findings underscore the detrimental impact of staggered elections on various facets of governance, including economic growth, public expenditure quality, and social cohesion.

Submitting its recommendations to President Droupadi Murmu, the Committee proposed synchronizing elections for the Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and subsequently, local bodies such as municipalities and panchayats, to be held within 100 days of the national and state elections.

The Committee proposed a phased approach, advocating for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies initially, followed by municipal and panchayat elections within a prescribed timeframe.

In cases of a hung House, where a no-confidence motion leads to the formation of a new House, the report suggests conducting fresh elections for the remainder of the five-year term. It also proposes a Constitutional Amendment Bill to amend Article 83 and Article 172, pertaining to the duration of the Houses of Parliament and State Legislatures, respectively.

Crucially, the Committee emphasizes that this Constitutional Amendment does not require ratification by the States.