The Gujarat state government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Wednesday expressed its full support for the proposal of holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, commonly known as 'one nation, one election'. In contrast, the Congress party voiced its strong opposition to the idea. Leaders from both parties met the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) in Gujarat, which is currently examining the proposal.
BJP's Stance: National Interest and Efficiency
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, and other senior BJP leaders met the JPC at GIFT City to submit their opinions. Deputy CM Sanghavi told reporters that the state government fully endorses the proposed legislation, calling it a move in the 'national interest'. He highlighted that Gujarat has already implemented a similar approach by conducting local body elections simultaneously earlier this year, setting a precedent for other states.
Sanghavi argued that simultaneous elections would save time and manpower, as frequent elections disrupt development work due to the Model Code of Conduct. He stated, 'Implementing the one nation, one election proposal would save public time and resources and allow officers to focus on public welfare work.'
Congress's Opposition: Federal Structure at Risk
The Congress delegation, led by Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Chavda, presented a contrasting view. Chavda termed the proposal a 'hidden agenda aimed at centralization of power'. He asserted that it goes against the constitutional spirit and the federal structure of the country. 'Our constitutional framework grants different systems and powers to each state, and this is an attempt to centralize them,' he said.
Chavda rejected the government's argument that simultaneous elections would reduce expenditure, noting that election-related costs account for less than one percent of government budgets. He warned that holding elections together would allow national issues to dominate, suppressing local state concerns.
Committee's Work and Potential Savings
The 41-member JPC, chaired by MP P P Chaudhary, is scrutinizing two bills: the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill. Chaudhary claimed on Tuesday that simultaneous polls could save the country approximately Rs 7 lakh crore and boost GDP by 1.6 percent. The committee continues to gather input from various stakeholders before finalizing its report.
