People tired of voting repeatedly: Piyush Goyal advocates for One Nation, One Election
The "One Nation, One Election" plan aims to combine and align Lok Sabha and all state assembly elections to cut down on how often elections happen, lower administrative expenses, and minimize the disruptions caused by holding elections at different times.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday called for a unified election system across India, popularly known as 'One Nation, One Election,' saying people are tired of voting repeatedly. He highlighted that this new approach could boost voter turnout, improve governance, and be more cost-effective.
The ‘One Nation, One Election’ idea aims to align Lok Sabha and all state assembly elections so they happen simultaneously, reducing the frequency of polls, cutting administrative costs, and minimizing disruptions caused by staggered elections.
Speaking at the Entrepreneurs & Traders Leadership Summit in New Delhi, Goyal pointed out growing voter fatigue due to multiple, staggered elections, which disrupt governance and public engagement. “People feel voter fatigue, they feel fatigue due to repetitive voting,” he said.
He also noted how the Model Code of Conduct often stalls administrative work during elections. Goyal compared states like Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, where elections are held together, saying voter turnout tends to be higher in such cases.
Goyal urged local bodies—from district to state level—to form nationwide action committees to support this idea. “If people from the business community have made up their mind on One Nation, One Election, we can touch every heart in India,” he said. He also emphasized the importance of rising above caste and language divisions for the country’s greater good.
Implementing this system would require major changes—around 18 amendments, including 15 to the Constitution—touching on issues like the duration and dissolution of legislatures, delimitation, presidential rule, and the powers of the Election Commission.
While the BJP champions the idea as a way to save costs and ensure better governance, critics warn it threatens federalism and democratic principles. Several Opposition parties have called the proposal “draconian” and “unconstitutional,” arguing it undermines states’ autonomy.
Goyal also tied the ‘One Nation, One Election’ push to the Prime Minister’s broader economic vision, saying it complements campaigns like “vocal for local” highlighted during the Independence Day address.
As the ruling alliance rallies public and political support, the government’s push for synchronized elections faces significant constitutional hurdles and resistance from the Opposition, suggesting it will be a long and challenging process.
**Voter Roll Revision in Bihar**
Goyal also praised the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in Bihar, aimed at protecting electoral integrity by removing non-citizen “intruders” while ensuring no eligible voter is left out. The government plans to roll out this exercise nationwide.
However, the SIR has sparked controversy. While the government insists it’s necessary to verify genuine voters, the Opposition accuses it of trying to alienate certain voter groups for political gain.