‘One Nation, One Election’ in BJP’s Current Term, Announces Amit Shah
New Delhi: The BJP-led NDA government plans to implement the ‘one nation, one election’ proposal during its current term, confirmed Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday.
Answering a question of media, Shah said, “It will happen in this term itself.”
In March 2021 the parliamentary standing committee on law and justice backed the “one nation, one election” proposal by saying,”Holding simultaneous elections will reduce the burden on exchequer, expenditure of political parties and ensure that human resources are utilised optimally. It will reduce voters’ apathy towards frequent elections and rather enthuse them, which will ultimately enhance participation in the electoral process.”
“Our country remains in election mode throughout the year. We are of the view that the idea of ‘one nation, one election’ is not new to our country as the first three General Elections (1952, 1957 and 1962) were held simultaneously,” said the panel.
Holding simultaneous elections would entail amendment to the Constitution to have fixed terms for local bodies, legislative assemblies and the Lok Sabha.
The government set up a committee under former President Ram Nath Kovind to examine the issue. The Kovind panel submitted its 18626 page report to President Droupadi Murmu in March 2024.
