The JD(U) on Saturday submitted a memorandum supporting the concept of 1 nation, one election to the high-level committee, headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind.
The celebration, which not too long ago entered into an alliance with the BJP in Bihar, mentioned simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha and state Assemblies will save price, present coverage continuity, assist practice give attention to governance, enhance voter turnout, scale back disruptions of every day life, streamline electoral course of, present stage taking part in discipline to events, scale back electoral violence and aide political stability.
It, nevertheless, underlined that the native physique polls shouldn’t be held alongside elections to the Lok Sabha and the state Assemblies. All native physique polls — municipalities and panchayats — ought to be held collectively however individually, the celebration mentioned.
The memorandum has been signed by JD(U) common secretary Sanjay Kumar Jha and the celebration’s Parliamentary Social gathering chief, Rajiv Ranjan Singh. The 2 leaders led a delegation that met Kovind, the chairman of the committee, on Saturday.
Notably, in September 2023, Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar had forged doubts over the intention behind the federal government’s transfer on one nation, one election. Nitish had then advised the media, “(Simultaneous elections) used to occur earlier. In the event that they actually wished to do that, why didn’t they begin with the Census? It used to occur each 10 years, however they didn’t do it. When this proposal comes within the Home we’ll talk about. What is occurring? …I’ve had my doubts for the reason that starting that they wish to maintain early elections. As a result of they see the Opposition coming collectively and they’re feeling they’re in peril.”
Within the memorandum handed over to Kovind on Saturday, the celebration has quoted suggestions of the Legislation Fee in 1999 and 2018, and the 2015 report of committee led by E M Sudarshan Natchiappan on feasibility of simultaneous elections to spotlight benefits of 1 nation, one election.
It mentioned simultaneous polls might scale back the monetary burden related to frequent elections, as campaigning, logistics and safety measures can be consolidated. Additionally, synchronised elections may result in a extra secure and steady coverage implementation as elected representatives would have longer phrases with out interruptions.
“Holding all elections collectively may enhance voter turnout, as they may take part in a single voting occasion… Frequent elections can disrupt regular life, with steady electoral cycles affecting administrative effectivity. Synchronised elections might minimise such disruption,” it mentioned.
The memorandum has additionally underlined that coordinating elections on a nationwide scale would result in a extra environment friendly and streamlined electoral course of and will create a extra stage taking part in discipline amongst political events, as they might all have the identical time-frame for campaigning and presenting their agenda.
“As soon as efficiently applied, the system of synchronised elections might simplify the electoral calendar, making it simpler for residents to grasp and interact within the democratic course of. Simultaneous elections may assist in decreasing election-related violence, because the safety equipment could possibly be extra successfully deployed for a single occasion,” it mentioned.
The celebration has additionally argued that the potential for longer, uninterrupted phrases for elected representatives might contribute to political stability and a extra constant governance framework.
“Within the mild of aforesaid benefits, JD(U) wish to prolong its assist to having simultaneous elections in Home of Individuals and State Legislature… The election for the third tier, that’s, panchayats and municipalities ought to be held concurrently however individually,” it mentioned.