PM Modi and BJP Push for ‘One Nation-One Election’ and Census Amid Opposition
New Delhi, India – Despite having fewer seats in the 2024 Parliamentary elections, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, remains committed to its 2014 agenda. Key achievements from Modi’s first two terms include the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the abolition of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, and the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act.
One of the major promises in the BJP’s election manifesto is ‘One Nation-One Election,’ which aims to hold state assembly polls simultaneously with parliamentary polls. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is determined to make this a reality during its current term, seeking support from other political parties despite opposition from several parties and state leaders.
Prime Minister Modi has been a strong advocate for electoral reforms, emphasizing that simultaneous elections would save resources, reduce administrative pressure, and save public money. A High-Level Committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind reported that frequent elections create uncertainty and affect policy decisions, while simultaneous elections would bring more stability and convenience for voters.
In his Independence Day speech, PM Modi urged all political parties to support ‘One Nation-One Election,’ highlighting the negative impact of continuous elections on development and welfare schemes.
Additionally, sources revealed that preparations for the long-delayed nationwide Census are underway. However, no decision has been made regarding the inclusion of a caste index. Opposition parties like Congress, RJD, and SP, along with NDA ally Lok Janashakthi Party, have been demanding a Caste Census. The last Census was conducted in 2011, and the 2021 Census was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Census is crucial for providing socio-economic and demographic data for policy-making and governance.
Doubts Revealed
PM Modi -: PM Modi is the Prime Minister of India. His full name is Narendra Modi, and he is the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the major political parties in India.
One Nation-One Election -: This is a proposal to hold all state and national elections at the same time. It aims to save money and reduce the work needed to organize elections.
Census -: A Census is a count of all the people living in a country. It collects information about them, like their age, gender, and where they live.
Caste Index -: A Caste Index would collect information about the different social groups or castes people belong to. This can help in making policies that benefit everyone.
Opposition parties -: Opposition parties are political groups that are not in power. They often have different ideas and challenge the government’s decisions.
Caste Census -: A Caste Census would specifically count the number of people in each caste. This information can help in making fair policies for all social groups.
