Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai stated that implementing 'One Nation, One Election' would make regional parties think nationally and at the same time national parties consider regional interests.
Speaking at an event on ‘One Nation, One Election’ held at Jain University in Jayanagar, Bangalore, he emphasised that a strong democratic system requires everyone to participate in voting. He stated that 'One Nation, One Election' is a step in public interest and a democratic reform, rather than an imposition, adding that if everything goes as planned, it could get iplemented by 2034.
Underscoring a 2017 NITI Aayog analysis that studied the potential of One Nation, One Election and suggested that it would foster greater national ohesion in a multi-lingual and culturally diverse India, he insisted that it is not just about the elections themselves but about the complex logistics involved in conducting them efficiently across a vast and diverse country such as ours, which is needless replication of efforts and waste of time.
He also stressed the need for youth to actively engage in the democratic process and voting, highlighting that India, since Independence, has upheld the principle of equal voting rights for all, regardless of gender. The first general elections were held in 1951-52 in seven phases. The second elections took place in 1957, and in 1952, 1957, 1962 and 1967, elections for state assemblies and Parliament were conducted simultaneously. However, in 1970, the Lok Sabha was dissolved a year early, and the Kerala State Government, led by the Communist Party, was dismissed under President’s Rule. He pointed out that this violated constitutional principles and that during the Emergency, several non-Congress state governments were dismissed and placed under President’s Rule.
The Janata Party, which later came to power at the Centre, also followed a similar approach, he added. With 28 states in India, elections have now become a continuous process. The 45-day Model Code of Conduct period hinders development projects, and the preparation of voter lists alone takes six months, he claimed.
He stated that each state loses a minimum of seven-and-a-half months due to election-related processes. Government officials, including teachers and CRPF personnel, are involved in election duties. The 'One Nation, One Election' system proposes a single voter list, where voters cast votes for both MPs and MLAs on a single day. Both the NITI Aayog and the Law Commission support the idea and have indicated that the time is now right for its implementation, he said. (With inputs from IANS)