One Nation, One Election game-changing for country; will greatly improve governance, says Thakur

Panaji, Jul 10 (PTI) The 'One Nation, One Election' reform could prove to be a "game-changing law" for the country as it would improve governance, attract investments and generate more employment by reducing time and resources spent on frequent elections, BJP MP Anurag Thakur said on Friday. Thakur, a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill 2024, was speaking to reporters after the committee held consultations with stakeholders in Goa on the first day of its two-day visit. Drawing a parallel with the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), he said the country had benefited from this "one nation, one tax" reform. The committee is interacting with elected representatives, political parties, bureaucrats, lawyers, members of the judicial fraternity, public sector bodies, banks and other institutions to understand the benefits and concerns associated with simultaneous elections, he said. This exercise (consultation for ONOE) has been a very enriching experience because several issues that were not apparent earlier are being discovered, he said. Thakur said repeated elections have a bearing on state revenues, government functioning, delivery of justice, education and healthcare, adding that the committee was also identifying indirect impacts that often go unnoticed. "Many of the adverse effects of frequent elections are not direct, but their indirect impact is substantial. When all these aspects are assessed and reflected in the committee's final report, I believe everyone will be surprised by the enormous benefits One Nation, One Election can bring to the country. It could be a game-changing law for the country," Thakur said. Goa made a very good presentation before the committee, with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and senior officials explaining how repeated elections affect governance even in a small state, he said. "If a small state like Goa experiences such a significant impact because of frequent elections, one can imagine the effect on larger states and the country as a whole. If we look at it from the perspective of national interest, this is a very significant decision, one that rises above individual and party interests," Thakur said. Today, India has an opportunity, as countries across the world are looking towards India with hope and expectation, the senior BJP leader said. "The more effective we make our governance and the more investment we attract, the greater the opportunities for employment and self-employment. And the less time we spend conducting elections, the more time we will have to deliver justice and better public services to the people," he opined. The former Union minister said the committee would travel to Lucknow next to continue consultations with the state government, opposition leaders, political parties, officials and representatives of public and private sector institutions. Describing the proposed reform as a decision that should be viewed in national interest rather than through the prism of political or party interests, Thakur said greater efficiency in governance would help attract more investment and create employment opportunities. Thakur said the committee was making efforts to hear the views of all political parties, irrespective of their size, with stakeholders being invited to make oral presentations or submit written representations. "Everyone has the right to express their views in a democracy. That is the strength of our democratic system -- discussion, debate and decide," he said. PTI RPS BNM