Chouhan, Dhami support ‘One Nation, One Election’ at Haridwar seer gathering

Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday spoke in favour of the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal during a gathering of seers at Avdhoot Mandal Ashram in Haridwar, with both leaders highlighting the administrative and resource implications of conducting elections at frequent intervals.

Chouhan said simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies could help reduce the time, expenditure and administrative resources required for repeated electoral exercises. He also appealed to members of the seer community to contribute to public awareness on the issue.

According to Chouhan, repeated elections require government machinery to be diverted towards election-related responsibilities. He said teachers, administrative officials, police personnel and security forces are often assigned election duties, which can affect regular government functioning and the implementation of development programmes.

Chouhan seeks support from seer community

Chouhan said simultaneous elections could allow administrative resources to be used more efficiently and enable governments to maintain greater continuity in development work.

He urged seers to discuss the proposal with people and explain its potential benefits. Chouhan said the proposal should be considered from the perspective of national interest rather than party politics.

He referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push for simultaneous elections and said the proposal was intended to address the impact of repeated electoral cycles on governance.

Chouhan also spoke about ‘Vande Mataram’, describing it as a symbol of national unity and patriotism. He appealed to the seer community to support the complete version of the national song and encourage greater awareness about its significance.

Dhami focuses on governance and resources

Dhami said ‘One Nation, One Election’ was not merely a political issue but one connected with national interest, good governance, public welfare and the efficient use of resources.

He said elections are an essential part of a democracy, but the repeated conduct of polls also has an impact on administration. The Model Code of Conduct, he said, can affect the functioning and implementation of government schemes during election periods.

The chief minister said government officials, teachers, police personnel and security forces have to be assigned election-related responsibilities whenever polls are conducted. If elections are held together, he said, public resources could potentially be saved while government departments would have more time for regular administrative work.

Dhami said the proposal could contribute to making the democratic process more organised and effective. He added that the issue had gained prominence in the national debate following initiatives taken by the Prime Minister.

Development continuity highlighted

The chief minister linked the proposal to the need for maintaining continuity in development work. He said India’s objective of becoming a developed country by 2047 would require sustained attention to employment, education, healthcare, infrastructure and other areas of public policy.

Dhami also sought guidance from the seer community, saying religious and social leaders have traditionally played an influential role in guiding society.

The gathering focused on the possible implications of simultaneous elections, with Chouhan emphasising public awareness and Dhami highlighting administrative efficiency and continuity in governance.

Both leaders said the broader objective should be to strengthen democratic processes while ensuring that government resources and administrative attention remain focused on public welfare and development.