Gujarat Government Supports Simultaneous Elections Amid Opposition from Congress
Gujarat govt endorses simultaneous polls, Cong opposes proposal
The Times Of India
Image: The Times Of India
The Gujarat state government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has endorsed the proposal for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, promoting it as beneficial for national interest. In contrast, the Congress party opposes the 'one nation, one election' initiative, arguing it centralizes power and undermines the federal structure.
- 01Gujarat's Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi expressed full support for the simultaneous elections proposal during a meeting with the Joint Parliamentary Committee.
- 02The Congress party, represented by GPCC president Amit Chavda, criticized the proposal as a hidden agenda for centralizing power and violating the constitutional framework.
- 03Sanghavi highlighted that Gujarat has already implemented simultaneous elections at local levels, setting a precedent for effective execution.
- 04Chavda countered the government's claim that simultaneous elections would reduce costs, stating that election-related expenses constitute less than one percent of government budgets.
- 05The parliamentary panel is reviewing two bills related to simultaneous elections, with claims that such a system could save the country ₹7 lakh crore (approximately $840 billion USD) and boost GDP by 1.6 percent.
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The Gujarat government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has publicly supported the proposal for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, advocating it as a measure in the national interest. During a meeting with the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) in Gandhinagar, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi expressed their backing for the 'one nation, one election' initiative. Sanghavi emphasized that Gujarat has already adopted simultaneous elections for local bodies, demonstrating its feasibility. Conversely, the Congress party, represented by GPCC president Amit Chavda, vehemently opposes the proposal, labeling it a hidden agenda aimed at centralizing power and undermining the federal structure established by the constitution. Chavda argued that while the government claims simultaneous elections would reduce expenditures and administrative burdens, election-related costs are minimal in the overall budget. The JPC is currently reviewing two proposed bills concerning simultaneous elections, with claims that this approach could potentially save the country ₹7 lakh crore (approximately $840 billion USD) and increase GDP by 1.6 percent.
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The proposal for simultaneous elections could streamline electoral processes in Gujarat, potentially affecting local governance and resource allocation.
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