Agartala: Feb 26: Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha has come out in strong support of the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative, citing its potential to bolster democracy, boost voter turnout, and yield economic benefits. Speaking at a discussion session on February 26, Dr. Saha emphasized that holding elections only once every five years would alleviate numerous challenges faced by citizens and the government.
Dr. Saha pointed out that frequent elections disrupt daily life, particularly causing schools to close for election duties. In contrast, ‘One Nation, One Election’ would allow citizens to cast their votes just once every five years, providing significant relief from the inconveniences caused by multiple elections throughout the year.
The Chief Minister also argued that a unified election cycle would lead to increased voter turnout, as people would be more engaged in a single, consolidated electoral process. From an economic perspective, Dr. Saha noted that holding multiple elections requires substantial financial resources, which could be better utilized elsewhere.
Additionally, Dr. Saha highlighted the negative impact of the Model Code of Conduct during elections, which restricts the government from making decisions or signing important documents. He reiterated that implementing ‘One Nation, One Election’ would ensure a more stable and efficient governance system, bringing about economic and social benefits, a reform advocated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi .
