TDP extends full support to ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill, says Union Minister of State Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar

Holding simultaneous polls would help streamline administrative functions, which often face disruptions due to staggered elections, says the TDP MP

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), under the leadership of N. Chandrababu Naidu, fully supports the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill, party leader and Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar said.

Reiterating the TDP’s commitment to helping the Centre achieve the goals of ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047, Mr. Chandra Sekhar said that the party remains aligned with the goals of the Centre and aims to integrate the vision of Viksit Bharat with the broader framework of ‘Swarna Andhra Vision 2047’.

During a discussion on the subject in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Mr. Chandra Sekhar said that holding Lok Sabha and Assembly elections together could significantly reduce costs and improve efficiency. “The Election Commission spent around ₹6,000 crore on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, and over ₹10,000 crore in 2024. Conducting elections simultaneously could cut these expenses by 40% and increase voter turnout by up to 7%,” he said.

Mr. Chandra Sekhar further noted that political parties collectively spend over ₹1 lakh crore during elections. Simultaneous polls would help streamline administrative functions, which often face disruptions due to staggered elections. “In the past six months, three State-level elections have impacted regular governance,” he said, emphasising the broader benefits of this reform.

Published - December 17, 2024 08:03 pm IST