Dainik Nation News Portal
DAINIK NATION BUREAU/DEHRADUN
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has participated in a high-level dialogue with the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the subject of “One Nation, One Election”here in Dehradun on Tuesday. He emphasised the urgent need for electoral reforms to make Indian democracy more efficient and inclusive. The meeting was chaired by PP Chaudhary, Chairman of the committee, and attended by several members of Parliament.
Welcoming the committee members to Uttarakhand, CM Dhami expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to discussions on an issue of national significance. He said that the idea of simultaneous elections is a progressive initiative aimed at strengthening democratic institutions and reducing administrative and financial burdens on both the state and central governments.
The Chief Minister pointed out that frequent elections impose repeated restrictions due to the Model Code of Conduct, stalling development work and policy decisions. “In the past three years, Uttarakhand has lost nearly 175 days of governance due to the imposition of the code of conduct during Assembly, Lok Sabha, and Municipal elections,” he noted. “For a small state with limited resources, this delay hampers effective governance.”
Highlighting the financial implications, CM Dhami explained that Assembly election expenses are borne by the state, while the Lok Sabha election costs are handled by the Centre. Conducting both elections simultaneously could reduce the total expenditure by 30–35%, freeing up resources for critical sectors like healthcare, education, infrastructure, agriculture, and women’s welfare.
The Chief Minister also stressed the unique challenges faced by hilly states like Uttarakhand. “From June to September, the state grapples with heavy rainfall and the Chardham Yatra, making election logistics highly challenging,” he said. Additionally, he advised against holding elections during January to March, as this coincides with the financial year-end and critical board examinations, placing extra pressure on administrative systems.
He further highlighted that frequent elections reduce voter enthusiasm, particularly in remote mountainous regions where access to polling booths is difficult and elections require significant time and resources.
Concluding his remarks, CM Dhami reiterated that ‘One Nation, One Election’ would not only improve administrative efficiency but also enhance voter participation and democratic governance, especially in geographically challenging states like Uttarakhand.
