Gandhinagar, May 20: Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel addressed the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) reviewing the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal on Wednesday. He emphasized that frequent elections adversely affect governance. Patel noted that a significant portion of the state machinery gets tied up in electoral tasks, disrupting economic activities in industrial states like Gujarat.
During a consultation meeting held at GIFT City in Gandhinagar, Patel stated that simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and Assembly would enhance administrative efficiency and strengthen public participation in the democratic process.
He explained that conducting elections repeatedly requires extensive logistics, infrastructure, and manpower, keeping a crucial part of the state machinery engaged in electoral duties for extended periods.
Presenting Gujarat’s perspective to the committee, Patel highlighted that developed and industrial states like Gujarat employ millions of workers from various sectors. Frequent elections force many of these workers to return to their hometowns to vote, which negatively impacts production in the state.
The Chief Minister remarked that this proposal aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘One India, Great India,’ and he described the reform as being in the national interest.
He recalled that for nearly 15 years post-independence, Lok Sabha and Assembly elections were held simultaneously. However, political instability and premature dissolution of assemblies disrupted this arrangement.
Referring to recent governance reforms, Patel noted that the central government, under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, has initiated several measures to bring administrative uniformity across the country.
He mentioned reforms like ‘One Nation, One Tax,’ ‘One Nation, One Ration Card,’ ‘One Nation, One Grid,’ and ‘One Nation, One Membership.’
Patel asserted that good governance, policy clarity, and public participation are crucial for any nation’s development journey. He believes that ‘One Nation, One Election’ could be a significant step in accelerating the country’s growth.
He further stated that holding elections simultaneously would not only reduce administrative and financial burdens but also boost voter enthusiasm and strengthen their participation in India’s democratic system.
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Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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