Dialogue on ‘One Nation, One Election’ at Sant Sammelan in Haridwar; Shivraj Singh Chouhan and CM Dhami Extend Support
Frequent elections hinder the pace of development; ‘One Nation, One Election’ is essential in the national interest: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
‘One Nation, One Election’ is a national issue linked to public interest, good governance and welfare: CM Pushkar Singh Dhami
Appeal to the Sant community to contribute to public awareness; emphasis on sustained development for a Developed India
Haridwar: A dialogue on ‘One Nation, One Election’ was held during a Sant Sammelan at the historic Avdhoot Mandal Ashram in Haridwar. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed the gathering and highlighted the need and significance of holding Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections simultaneously. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also attended the programme and extended his support, describing ‘One Nation, One Election’ as an important national issue connected with the public interest, good governance and welfare.
Frequent Elections Affect the Pace of Development: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken an important initiative to promote ‘One Nation, One Election’ with the objective of making the electoral system more efficient and streamlined.
He said frequent elections consume considerable amounts of the country’s time, financial resources and administrative capacity, which directly affects development activities and public service delivery.
Chouhan pointed out that the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct during elections can affect the pace of development work. A large number of administrative officials, teachers, police personnel and security forces are deployed for election-related duties. As a result, valuable administrative time and resources are diverted from development and public welfare activities to election management.
He said that if Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are held simultaneously, considerable savings in time and resources can be achieved. This would enable the administration to focus more effectively on development and public service.
Appeal to Sant Community to Create Public Awareness
The Union Minister appealed to the Sant community to contribute to public awareness regarding ‘One Nation, One Election’. He said saints and spiritual leaders have a wide social reach and can play an important role in fostering informed public dialogue on issues of national importance.
Chouhan urged the Sant community to use their discourses and social interactions to explain the need and potential benefits of simultaneous elections to the people.
He emphasized that the issue is not limited to any political party but concerns the country’s democratic system, good governance and development.
He reiterated the principle, “Nation first, party later,” and said that when the country becomes stronger and progresses, democracy and the political system will also become stronger.
Chouhan Highlights Significance of Vande Mataram
During his address, Shivraj Singh Chouhan also spoke about the significance of ‘Vande Mataram’, describing it as a symbol of patriotism and national unity.
He called for preserving the unity and integrity of the country and emphasized that preventing any form of division should remain a collective national responsibility. He appealed to the Sant community to continue strengthening the spirit of national unity, integrity and patriotism among the people.
‘One Nation, One Election’ is a Matter of National Interest and Good Governance: CM Dhami
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said ‘One Nation, One Election’ is not a political issue but a national issue linked to public interest, good governance, public welfare and the efficient utilization of public resources.
He said India is the world’s largest democracy and elections are an important celebration of democratic participation. However, a continuously recurring electoral cycle can also affect governance and development activities.
The Chief Minister noted that frequent elections require large numbers of administrative officials, teachers, police personnel and security forces to be deployed for election-related responsibilities. The Model Code of Conduct can also affect the implementation and pace of various development programmes.
He said that if simultaneous elections lead to savings in public money and resources and provide the administration with more time for public service and development, it could prove to be an important step towards making the democratic process more effective and streamlined.
Continuous Development Essential for a Developed India
CM Dhami said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought the issue of ‘One Nation, One Election’ to the centre of the national discourse and taken important steps in this direction.
He stressed that maintaining a continuous pace of development is essential to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
India is among the world’s fastest-growing major economies, he said, adding that governance should focus maximum attention on employment, education, healthcare, infrastructure and public welfare.
A more streamlined electoral process, he said, can help ensure better utilization of administrative resources and allow governments to devote greater time to development-oriented activities.
CM Appeals to Saints to Guide Society
Chief Minister Dhami appealed to revered saints and spiritual leaders to guide society on this important national issue.
He said that in India’s Sanatan tradition, the Sant community has consistently played an important role in providing direction to society and the nation.
The Chief Minister said the collective national resolve should be to strengthen democracy, ensure continuous development, protect India’s cultural heritage and keep the nation above all else.
He added that wider and constructive public dialogue on issues such as ‘One Nation, One Election’ can contribute to strengthening India’s democratic system and promoting good governance.
The programme witnessed discussions among members of the Sant community and the gathering on issues related to national interest, democratic values, good governance and sustained development.
