Frequent polls keep govt machinery occupied: Gujarat CM tells JPC
Gandhinagar, May 20
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday told the Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal that frequent elections adversely affect governance by repeatedly engaging large sections of the state machinery in electoral work and disrupting economic activity in industrial states such as Gujarat.
Addressing the parliamentary panel during its consultation meeting at GIFT City in Gandhinagar, Patel said simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections would help improve administrative efficiency and strengthen public participation in the democratic process.
The Chief Minister said the repeated conduct of elections requires extensive deployment of logistics, infrastructure, and manpower, leaving a significant portion of the state machinery occupied with election-related duties for prolonged periods.
"In a developed and industrial state like Gujarat, lakhs of workers from other regions are employed here. Frequent elections compel many of them to return to their native places to cast their votes, which also affects production in the state," Patel said while presenting Gujarat's views before the committee.
The Chief Minister said the proposal aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat" and described the reform as being in the national interest.
"India had previously conducted simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections for nearly 15 years after Independence, but the arrangement was later disrupted due to political instability and premature dissolution of legislatures," he said.
Referring to broader governance reforms undertaken in recent years, the Chief Minister said the Union government under Prime Minister Modi had introduced several initiatives to create administrative uniformity across the country.
He cited reforms such as "One Nation, One Tax", "One Nation, One Ration Card", "One Nation, One Grid,", and "One Nation, One Subscription".
"In the development journey of any nation, good governance, policy clarity, and public participation are extremely important. 'One Nation, One Election' can become an important step in accelerating the country's development," Patel said.
He further stated that simultaneous elections would not only reduce administrative and financial burden but also increase voter enthusiasm and strengthen participation in India's democratic system.
"The Joint Parliamentary Committee's consultations with different political parties and stakeholders would help bring together diverse opinions on the proposal and provide direction for future reforms," he noted.
The 39-member JPC, chaired by BJP MP P. P. Chaudhary, is currently on a three-day visit to Gujarat as part of nationwide consultations on the proposal for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
On Tuesday, the committee held discussions with senior state government officials and reviewed a detailed presentation by the state administration.
Chaudhary had described Gujarat's submission as a "model presentation" and indicated that similar formats could be suggested to other states.
The committee is examining constitutional, legal, and administrative aspects of simultaneous elections and is also reviewing proposals based on the report submitted by the high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally, someone from Gujarat CM's office is saying what many of us have been thinking. Every year there's an election somewhere - local body, assembly, by-poll, lok sabha. The EC machinery is stretched thin and development work takes a backseat. One Nation One Election makes sense if executed properly. 👍
The CM's point about workers going back to their native places is valid, but let's not forget - voting is a fundamental right. If simultaneous elections mean more people can vote without sacrificing work, that's a win-win. But I'm skeptical about states with different political cycles being forced into this.
As someone who grew up in Gujarat and now lives in Maharashtra, I see both sides. Frequent elections do waste money and time, but local issues often get buried under national narratives in simultaneous elections. The CM gave a good presentation, but we need to hear from opposition parties too. Balance is key. 🗳️
Interesting to see Gujarat CM backing this so strongly. He's right that 'One Nation, One Tax' and 'One Nation, One Ration Card' worked well. But elections aren't just about administration - they're about accountability. If a state government fails mid-term, should voters wait years to throw them out? That's my concern.
Gujarat has always been a laboratory for reforms, and this might be another one. But I wish the CM had addressed concerns about smaller states and regional parties losing voice. Also, the model code of conduct during elections does help curb corruption - we shouldn't lose that. Just my two
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