Assam CM advocates for ‘One Nation, One Election’ to boost development, cut costs

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma voiced strong support for the proposed One Nation, One Election initiative, emphasizing its potential to save public funds and accelerate development across the country.  

Highlighting the drawbacks of frequent elections, CM Sarma stated, "Frequent elections bring the Model Code of Conduct into effect, which halts development work for nearly a year. In Assam, holding multiple elections costs approximately Rs 1,000 crore per election, amounting to Rs 2,000 crore for the entire ballot process. Conducting elections simultaneously will significantly reduce expenses and streamline political campaigns."  

Sarma elaborated on the historical context, pointing out that India originally followed the One Nation, One Election model in the early years post-Independence. However, this system was disrupted due to the imposition of President’s Rule and the dissolution of legislative assemblies by successive governments.  

"Earlier, simultaneous elections were the norm, but Congress disrupted this by frequently dissolving assemblies. A return to the original system will not only benefit citizens but also make governance more efficient," he remarked.  

The Chief Minister further underlined the financial strain on political parties, which rely on public donations to fund election campaigns. "Simultaneous elections will reduce the cost of campaigning for political parties, allowing resources to be utilized more effectively," he added.

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