Gujarat CM Patel expresses views on 'One Nation, One Election' before Joint Parliamentary Committee
Gandhinagar, May 20
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday expressed support for the 'One Nation One Election' proposal before the Joint Parliamentary Committee, stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' would be realised through simultaneous elections across the country, according to the CMO.
Patel shared his views during a meeting organised by the JPC at GIFT City in Gandhinagar, where the committee had arrived to seek suggestions and opinions from states on the proposed reform.
These include initiatives such as 'One Nation, One Tax', 'One Nation, One Ration Card', 'One Nation, One Grid', and 'One Nation, One Subscription'.
"All these reforms have brought uniformity in governance," he said.
The Chief Minister stated that, along with good governance, clear policies and public participation are extremely essential in the development journey of every nation.
"For this reason, 'One Nation, One Election' will prove to be an important step in the country's development," CM added.
The Chief Minister also mentioned in his remarks that for 15 years after India's Independence, Lok Sabha and Assembly elections were conducted simultaneously. However, this system was disrupted due to political instability, the CMO stated in the release.
The Chief Minister clarified that in a developed state like Gujarat, where lakhs of labourers from other regions are employed, frequent elections compel a large section of these labourers to return to their native places to cast their votes. As a result, the production output of Gujarat is adversely affected.
Further elaborating on these issues, he said that the election process requires large-scale logistics, infrastructure, and manpower. As a result, a major part of the government machinery remains engaged in election-related work. In addition, the expenditure incurred for the same also has to be borne by the state government.
As per the release, the Chief Minister described this constitutional reform as being in the national interest and said that it would prove significant in increasing public participation and enhancing citizens' enthusiasm towards the electoral process in India's vibrant democracy.
The Chief Minister also expressed the view that the JPC, which had come to hear opinions on this issue, would get to know the diverse perspectives of various political parties regarding 'One Nation One Election', and that bringing all these views together would pave the way for a new direction.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The point about labor migration is very valid. In Gujarat, lakhs of workers from UP, Bihar, and Odisha have to travel back home just to vote, which hits production badly. Simultaneous elections would mean they vote once and are done for five years—that's a huge relief for both workers and industries.
I support the idea but we need to be practical. Our coalition politics and the fact that state governments can fall at different times makes it tricky. If a state government collapses after two years, do we then have to wait till the Lok Sabha term ends? That would lead to President's rule for long periods. Not ideal.
One Nation One Election sounds good on paper but let's not forget the federal structure. States have different issues, and if all elections happen together, national parties will dominate with their big budgets. Regional voices may get drowned out. We need safeguards, not just a blanket reform.
Remember that from 1952 to 1967 we did have simultaneous elections. It worked fine until political instability broke it. Maybe with stable governments now and better constitutional mechanisms, we can bring it back. Also, saving thousands of crores in election expenses is no small thing—that money can build schools and hospitals.
The CM's logic about governance efficiency is appealing. Right now, every few months there's a Model Code of Conduct that freezes new projects. It's frustrating for citizens who want roads and water schemes completed on time. If we can have uninterrupted governance for five years, that's a big win for development.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.