Bengaluru, May 24: Padma award winners, including musician Ricky Kej, scientist Dr. Prahlad Ramarow, yoga guru Dr. H.R. Nagendra, and indigenous martial arts director Dr. Hasan Raghu, have expressed strong support for the “One Nation, One Election” proposal. They argue that this initiative could reduce election costs, minimize disruptions in governance and education, enhance efficiency, and focus on long-term national development.
Ricky Kej, a renowned musician and environmentalist who received the Padma Shri award in 2025, stated, “The contribution of many citizens is vital in building a nation. I am grateful that artists and musicians have been invited to this important discussion. The concept of ‘One Nation, One Election’ impacts everyone, and it is crucial to debate it. Reaching a reasonable conclusion is essential. It is important for several reasons. Common sense suggests that costs will decrease, infrastructure needs will lessen, and currently, every politician is engaged in the same election for their entire career. For instance, they fight the same election for 20 years due to numerous smaller elections. Today, with social media, if elections are happening in another state, your feed gets flooded with election-related news, affecting our mental health and behavior. Therefore, I believe that having elections every four to five years, allowing leaders to focus on long-term solutions for their constituents, will significantly aid our country’s progress.”
Dr. Prahlad Ramarow, a Padma award-winning scientist, added, “Imagine there are 100 Padma award winners from 100 different fields. This means they represent a large portion of the country’s population. They are not from a single domain. Therefore, if all 100 believe that ‘One Nation, One Election’ (ONOE) is the right decision, it truly reflects the public’s sentiment. This is not just a scientific or political opinion but a common man’s view. We all came together with this spirit. The majority believes that ONOE is the correct solution.”
Yoga guru Dr. H.R. Nagendra remarked, “The Prime Minister’s initiative is commendable as we often get caught up in elections. We should utilize our time for governance and development to ensure everything runs smoothly. By involving parties in elections, you give them five years to show results. If they become corrupt, there should be provisions for their removal. They should be given a real opportunity, but if they are constantly preoccupied with elections, how can they develop? Most of our time will be spent observing the current situation. I believe ‘One Nation, One Election’ should be implemented. All Padma award winners should share their opinions on this matter. We all feel that the government has taken a positive step.”
Dr. Hasan Raghu, director of indigenous martial arts, also supported the One Nation, One Election initiative. He stated, “As an Indian honored by the government, I believe that having elections at once will save time and money. Frequent elections cause significant inconvenience for students. If there are five elections in five years, how will studies be affected? Time is more valuable than money. If time is saved, individuals can work more effectively, and the government can function better. Hence, ‘One Nation, One Election’ is entirely justified.”
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