BSP Backs ‘One Nation, One Election’, Mayawati says ‘Public Interest Should Take Centre-Stage’

Lucknow: After the Union Cabinet accepted the recommendations put forth by the high-level committee on 'One Nation, One Election' to hold simultaneous polls in the country, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) backed the proposal saying that the objective of One Nation One Election should serve national and public interest. 

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the government's 'One Nation, One Election' proposal which proposes simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, with urban body and panchayat polls to be held within 100 days.

In a post on X, BSP president Mayawati said, “Our party's stand on the approval given today by the Union Cabinet to the proposal to hold simultaneous elections of Lok Sabha, Assembly and local bodies in the country under the system of 'One Country, One Election' is positive, but its objective must be in the national and public interest.

The High-Level Committee on 'One Nation-One Election,' chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, released a report indicating that frequent elections foster an atmosphere of uncertainty and can hinder policy decisions. The committee states that simultaneous elections would enhance certainty in policymaking. This comprehensive report, spanning 18,626 pages, is the result of extensive consultations with stakeholders, experts, and research conducted over 191 days, following the committee's formation on September 2, 2023. The report was submitted to President Murmu on March 14, 2024. It emphasizes the benefits of simultaneous elections, including increased convenience for voters, reduced voter fatigue, and the potential for higher voter turnout.