Multiple elections hit development of country: Union Minister Jitendra Singh

Stressing the need for holding simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Thursday said that multiple elections are incompatible with the nation’s consistent development and growth.

He said time has come to roll out “One Nation One Election” which represents a transformative shift in India’s electoral process.

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Dr Singh was addressing a programme titled “Students for One Nation One Election” at the University of Jammu.

Emphasising that the key to a nation’s uninterrupted growth is an uninterrupted electoral system with defined timelines, the minister said that former President Ram Nath Kovind-led committee has submitted its report stating that more than 80 per cent of citizens are in favour of simultaneous polls.

He said the committee solicited extensive public and political feedback, and consulted with experts to analyse the potential benefits and challenges associated with this proposed electoral reform.

The minister said frequent elections in the country have led to policy paralysis and wastage of financial resources, besides leading to the culture of freebies and opportunism. In fact, such haphazard elections also tend to corrupt the voter, Dr Singh added.

Political parties are opposing simultaneous elections due to their narrow vested interests, the minister said, adding the ongoing cycle of elections across the country diverts attention from good governance. Political parties focus more on election-related activities to secure victories, leaving less time for development and essential governance.

The minister urged the students to study the benefits of One Nation One Election and discuss them with their peers.

History is a witness that revolutions were born by student movements, he said. “Youth below 40 years of age are the opinion makers as they comprise over 70% of India’s population. The same youth would become future leaders, framers of policies and architects of Viksit Bharat.”

He said the cumulative outcome of the last decade of the Modi government has been a democratisation of opportunities for the youth as well as the resources. The government has also created a level playing field for the youth by offering them financial support to start their own businesses which are also providing jobs to others.

Underlining the government’s commitment to women youth empowerment, the minister said it is heartening to see young girls opening their own food outlets on national highways under PM SvaNidhi yojana. He said the Start Up India Stand Up India scheme is bearing fruit, with B towns in large numbers appearing on the start up map of India.

Dr Singh said Mudra Yojana is also empowering non-corporate, non-farm small and micro enterprises by providing loans of up to Rs.10 lakh.