Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel expressed to the Joint Parliamentary Committee the drawbacks of frequent elections in disrupting governance and economic activities in industrial states like Gujarat. Patel emphasized that conducting Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously would enhance administrative efficiency and public engagement in the democratic process. He highlighted the strain on resources and manpower caused by repeated elections, affecting productivity in states like Gujarat where many workers have to travel back to their hometowns to vote.
The Chief Minister linked the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat,” asserting that the reform is in the nation’s best interest. Patel recalled India’s past experience of simultaneous elections post-independence, which was discontinued due to political instability and premature dissolution of legislatures. He also mentioned various governance reforms introduced by the Modi government to ensure uniformity across the country, such as “One Nation, One Tax” and “One Nation, One Ration Card.”
Patel underlined the significance of good governance, policy clarity, and public involvement in a nation’s development journey. He believed that ‘One Nation, One Election’ could be a crucial step in advancing India’s progress. The Chief Minister argued that synchronized elections would alleviate administrative and financial burdens, boost voter enthusiasm, and reinforce democratic participation. He anticipated that the JPC’s consultations with different stakeholders would gather diverse perspectives on the proposal, guiding future reforms effectively.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee, led by BJP MP P. P. Chaudhary, is currently in Gujarat for consultations on simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. The committee is scrutinizing the constitutional, legal, and administrative aspects of the proposal, drawing insights from the report submitted by the high-level committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind. Chaudhary commended Gujarat’s presentation to the committee as a potential model for other states to follow, indicating the possibility of suggesting similar formats elsewhere.
