Government Approves One Nation, One Election Recommendation

In a significant move, the Union Cabinet on December 12 approved the proposal for "One Nation, One Election" (ONE), which recommends holding simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies in a phased manner.

The government had accepted the recommendations of a high-level committee in September, paving the way for the implementation of ONE. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been vocal about shorter election cycles, stating that politics should not dominate the entirety of a five-year term.

According to PM Modi, elections should be held only for three or four months, saving logistics expenditure and allowing the government to focus on developmental activities during the rest of the term. He also emphasized the importance of implementing ONE comprehensively through a comprehensive bill in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.

The proposal is seen as a game-changer for India's economy, with former President Ram Nath Kovind predicting a potential boost of 1-1.5 percent to the country's GDP. Kovind, who chairs the ONE committee, has been advocating for the implementation of ONE, emphasizing its national interest and potential benefits.

The government will need to build consensus for the implementation of ONE, which includes holding simultaneous elections for state assemblies and Lok Sabha across the country. With this approval, India is set to take a significant step towards simplifying its electoral processes and reducing election-related complexities.

As the Winter Session of Parliament commences, the government is expected to bring in a comprehensive bill on ONE, marking a major milestone in the country's democratic reforms journey.

Updated at Alaryan.com

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