Dr Rajeshwar Singh Addresses Seminar On ‘One Nation, One Election’ In Sarojini Nagar

A major seminar on the topic of ‘One Nation, One Election’ was held on Sunday in Sarojini Nagar, near the capital Lucknow.

The event witnessed the presence of thousands of BJP workers, senior party leaders, and local citizens.

BJP MLA and former Enforcement Directorate officer Dr Rajeshwar Singh served as the keynote speaker and emphasised the need for urgent electoral reforms in India.

Dr Rajeshwar Singh Calls For Unified Electoral System

In his address, Dr Singh stated that holding repeated elections in a country as vast as India has become increasingly impractical.

“We cannot push 100 crore people into elections again and again. ‘One Nation, One Election’ is essential to ensure continuity and good governance,” he said.

He pointed out that since India’s independence, the government has conducted more than 400 elections, which have severely burdened the administrative machinery and stalled developmental initiatives.

Frequent Elections Drain Resources And Hamper Development

Dr Singh raised concerns over the enormous financial and administrative costs involved in conducting elections multiple times.

“Almost half of the education budget ends up being utilised for election purposes,” he said, highlighting how this diversion of funds affects public services and long-term development plans.

Historical Background And Political Disruptions

Recalling the country’s electoral history, Dr Singh mentioned that simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, conducted from 1951 to 1967.

However, the premature dissolution of the fourth Lok Sabha in 1970 disrupted the cycle.

He criticised the Congress party for allegedly misusing Article 356 on 90 occasions to dissolve state governments, which further broke the synchronised election cycle.

High-Level Committee Recommendations And Legislative Efforts

Dr Singh cited the 18,626-page report submitted by a high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind.

The committee reported that 80% of the people support the idea of simultaneous elections.

Based on this report, the Centre introduced the 129th Constitution Amendment Bill in Parliament in December 2024.

The Lok Sabha passed the bill, and the Joint Parliamentary Committee is currently reviewing it.

Constitutional Amendments And Road Ahead

To implement ‘One Nation, One Election’, Dr Singh stressed the need to amend several constitutional provisions.

He urged voters to give the BJP a two-thirds majority in the next election to pass the bill in both houses of Parliament.

Criticism Of Opposition

Dr Singh accused opposition parties of indulging in caste-based appeasement and regional politics.

He alleged that they oppose reforms like ‘One Nation, One Election’ to hinder the Modi-Yogi government’s development agenda.

Dr Singh voiced concern over West Bengal protests and condemned the alleged targeting of Hindus.

He cited minority struggles in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan to stress protecting India’s democratic and secular values.

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