Holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies could not only reduce the frequency of elections—thereby saving time and resources—but also enhance governance efficiency and promote economic stability, stated Shri Anurag Thakur, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha.
He was delivering a special lecture on One Nation, One Election at the Central University of Punjab. The event, held under the patronage of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari, witnessed enthusiastic participation from the CU Punjab fraternity.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Anurag Thakur, currently serving his fifth term as an MP and a former Cabinet Minister, stated that in the post-independence era, India initially followed a synchronized election process. However, this system was gradually disrupted as some Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha terms ended prematurely.
He highlighted that a High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections, led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, has recommended that elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies be held concurrently—either on the same day or within a specific timeframe.
The committee's proposal, formulated after incorporating recommendations from administrators, lawyers, statesmen, and Election Commission officials, advocates synchronizing the terms of the Lok Sabha and state assemblies to five years. This initiative aims to streamline the electoral process, minimize election-related disruptions, and optimize resource utilization.
Shri Anurag Thakur further stated that apart from the Lok Sabha elections, which are held every five years, political parties, leaders, bureaucrats, teachers, employees, and the Election Commission of India need to dedicate substantial time and effort to conducting multiple Vidhan Sabha and Municipal Corporation elections across various states each year.
This not only consumes valuable resources but also leads to unnecessary expenditure. He emphasized that the Union government, under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, introduced the One Nation, One Election bill in Parliament to synchronize election schedules across the country.
Following discussions in the House, the bill has been referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee. As a member of JPC, he opined that this bill has the potential to transform governance in India by preventing policy paralysis, minimizing resource diversion, and reducing the financial burden on the state.
Shri Anurag Thakur stated that innovative government initiatives like GST have not only boosted tax collections but also benefited citizens, including income tax exemptions for individuals earning up to ₹12 lakh. Similarly, he emphasized that the One Nation, One Election initiative will contribute to AtmaNirbhar Bharat by enabling leaders and administrators to focus entirely on public welfare.
Shri Thakur highlighted that the Election Commission of India currently spends over ₹3 lakh crore on conducting Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, and Municipal Elections across different states within a five-year span. “If we save this money, India won’t have to wait until 2047 to become a developed nation—we will achieve Viksit Bharat much sooner,” he added.
"Reforms of such magnitude require a bold vision. This bill is yet another landmark initiative by the Modi government that seeks to redefine governance by ensuring consistency, stability, and efficiency in policy implementation," Shri Thakur remarked. He encouraged youngsters to share their feedback and concerns on the government website and express their support on social media.
Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari, Vice-Chancellor of CU Punjab, expressed gratitude to the Chief Guest and Invited Speaker, Shri Anurag Thakur, for enriching students' understanding of this crucial electoral reform. He emphasized that the 21st century is an era of smart decision-making, highlighting how the Union Government, under the leadership of PM Modi, has implemented the NEP-2020 to transform the education system.
He noted that One Nation, One Election is another step toward making the electoral process more efficient and smarter. This initiative, he added, would save valuable time for teachers, scholars, and students pursuing higher education, who otherwise have to attend election duties or travel to their hometowns to cast votes in multiple elections.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Prof. Sanjeev Thakur, Dean, Student Welfare, followed by an introduction of the speaker by Prof. Bawa Singh, Programme Coordinator. Towards the end, Registrar Dr. Vijay Sharma presented the formal vote of thanks and expressed gratitude towards Shri Anurag Thakur for his efforts to create awareness about ‘One Nation One Election’ and strengthen democracy.