Cabinet decision for One Nation, One Election reflects PM Modi's resolve to strengthen democracy: Rajnath Singh

New Delhi [India], September 18 (ANI): Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday hailed the Union Cabinet's decision to approve the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unwavering resolve to strengthen the democracy is reflected in this "progressive decision".
"Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is undertaking big reforms like never before. Today the Union Cabinet accepted the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on One Nation, One Election. PM Modi's unwavering resolve to strengthen our democracy is reflected in this progressive decision," PM Modi posted on X.
Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the Union Cabinet's decision and said that it reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong will to bolster democracy "through clean elections and accelerate growth through more productive allocation of resources."
He said in a post on X that Bharat has been witnessing transformative reforms under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi.
"Today, in this direction, Bharat takes a giant stride towards landmark electoral reforms with the Union Cabinet accepting the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on One Nation, One Election," Amit Shah said.
"This reflects Modi Ji's iron will to bolster our democracy through clean and financially efficient elections and accelerate economic growth through more productive allocation of resources," he added.
Earlier today, the Cabinet unanimously approved 'One Nation, One Election' proposal, which proposes simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections, with urban body and panchayat polls to be held within 100 days.
The High-level Committee on Simultaneous Elections, constituted under the Chairmanship of former President Ram Nath Kovind, submitted its report to President Droupadi Murmu earlier this year.
The government has said that the Report, comprising 18,626 pages, is an outcome of extensive consultations with stakeholders, experts and research work of 191 days, since its constitution on September 2, 2023.
The Committee has recommended a two-step approach to lead to the simultaneous elections. It said that as the first step, simultaneous elections will be held for the House of the People and the State Legislative Assemblies.
In the second step, elections to the Municipalities and the Panchayats will be synchronized with the House of the People and the State Legislative Assemblies in such a way that Municipalities and Panchayats elections are held within hundred days of holding elections to the House of the People and the State Legislative Assemblies.
The Committee also recommended that there should be a single electoral roll and Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) for use in elections to all the three tiers of Government.
(ANI)