Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Announces ‘One Nation, One Election’ Proposal Approved by Cabinet
The Union Cabinet has approved the government’s ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, which aims to hold simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, along with urban body and panchayat polls within 100 days. This decision is based on recommendations from a high-level committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind.
Implementation in Two Phases
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw explained that the proposal will be implemented in two phases. In the first phase, Lok Sabha and Assembly elections will be held. In the second phase, local bodies elections, including Gram Panchayat, Block, Zila Panchayat, and urban local bodies, will take place.
Broad Support and Benefits
Vaishnaw noted that many political parties support the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative. The high-level committee’s report highlighted that frequent elections create uncertainty and impact policy decisions. Simultaneous elections are expected to bring enhanced certainty in policy-making, ease and convenience for voters, and greater voter turnout.
Next Steps
The proposal will be discussed across various forums in India, and an implementation group will be formed to take forward the recommendations. The proposal will be tabled in Parliament and must be cleared in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha before becoming law.
Doubts Revealed
Union Minister -: A Union Minister is a person who is in charge of a specific department in the central government of India. They help make important decisions for the country.
Ashwini Vaishnaw -: Ashwini Vaishnaw is a politician in India who is currently serving as a Union Minister. He helps in making important decisions for the country.
One Nation, One Election -: ‘One Nation, One Election’ is a proposal to hold all major elections in India at the same time. This means voting for the national government (Lok Sabha), state governments (Assembly), and local bodies (urban and panchayat) would happen together.
Cabinet -: The Cabinet is a group of top leaders in the government who make important decisions. They are usually ministers in charge of different departments.
Lok Sabha -: Lok Sabha is the lower house of India’s Parliament. It is where members are elected to make laws and decisions for the country.
Assembly elections -: Assembly elections are held to choose members for the state governments in India. Each state has its own assembly where laws and decisions for the state are made.
Urban body -: Urban bodies are local government organizations in cities and towns. They take care of things like roads, water supply, and schools in urban areas.
Panchayat -: A Panchayat is a local government body in villages. It helps manage village affairs like water supply, roads, and schools.
Ram Nath Kovind -: Ram Nath Kovind is a former President of India. He was the head of the country and represented India in important matters.
Democracy -: Democracy is a system of government where people vote to choose their leaders. It means the power is in the hands of the people.
Policy-making -: Policy-making is the process of creating rules and laws that help run the country. It involves deciding what is best for the people and the nation.