Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed ‘One nation, one choice’ on Thursday, saying it is India’s need, as elections held every few months affect development works.
Addressing the closing session of the 80th Indian Board Conference via video conference, Prime Minister Modi also paid tribute to the victims of the Mumbai attacks on 11/26 and stated that India is fighting back. against terrorism now with a new policy and a new process.
“Elections are held in different places every few months, the impact it has on development works is known to all. Therefore, it is imperative to have an in-depth study and deliberation on ‘One nation, one choice,’ “said Prime Minister Modi.
The prime minister also suggested a single list of voters for the Lok Sabha, assembly and panchayat polls, saying the separate lists are a waste of resources.
“We must remember that when politics takes hold of people and nation-first policies, the nation has to pay adversely in such situations,” he said.
In his address to the nation this Independence Day, Prime Minister Modi had focused on the government’s push to hold simultaneous Lok Sabha elections and assembly elections.
Speaking from the walls of the Red Fort, the Prime Minister had said: “GST [Goods and Services Tax] achieved the dream of ‘one nation, one tax’. We successfully achieved “one nation, one network” in the electricity sector. We also developed the system of ‘one nation, one mobility card’, and today there is a discussion in the country about ‘one nation, one survey’ and it should happen in a democratic way ”.
The Prime Minister and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been talking about “one nation, one poll” as a measure that will provide the same resources and allow time for governance rather than always being in electoral mode. The opposition, however, has vehemently opposed the plan, describing it as a threat to India’s federal structure.
Prime Minister Modi had also launched the idea of ”one nation, one poll” during his first term; a standing parliamentary committee, the Niti Aayog, and the Law Commission subsequently deliberated on the issue and submitted reports.
The Law Commission recommended holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies to save public money; and NITI Aayog suggested phased-gated probes for Lok Sabha and assembly probes starting in 2024.
The Election Commission of India, for its part, has said that the proposal can only be accepted after the political parties reach a consensus.
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