Union Cabinet approves One Nation, One Election proposal

Union Cabinet Approves One Nation, One Election Proposal

by Utkalika Mohanty

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the government's '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.

New Delhi, Sept 18: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the government's '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 recommendations were made in a report of a hight panel committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind.

Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "The Union Cabinet has accepted the recommendations by the high-level committee on 'One Nation, One Election. Cabinet approved the proposal unanimously."
The Union Minister further said that the proposal will be implemented in two phases.

"In the first phase, Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections will be held and in the second phase, local bodies elections (Gram Panchayat, Block, Zila Panchayat) and urban local bodies (municipality and municipal committees or municipal corporations)," the Minister said.

Vaishnaw said that recommendations of former President Ram Nath Kovind's panel will be discussed across India on various forums.

"Implementation group to be formed to take forward recommendations of Kovind panel on simultaneous polls," the Minister said.
Vaishnaw further said that a large number of parties across the political spectrum have actually supported the One Nation, One Election initiative.

"When they interact with high-level meetings, they give their input in a very succinct manner and with a lot of clarity. Our government believes in creating a consensus on items that affect democracy and the nation in the long run. This is a subject, a topic that will strengthen our nation," the Union Minister said.

The Kovind-led High-Level Committee on 'One Nation-One Election' led by former President Ram Nath Kovind in its report stated that frequent elections create an atmosphere of uncertainty and impact policy decisions, adding that holding simultaneous elections would bring enhanced certainty in policy making.

The report, comprising 18,626 pages, is an outcome of extensive consultations with stakeholders, experts and research work over 191 days, since the constitution of the High-Level Committee on September 2, 2023.

While highlighting the advantages of simultaneous elections, the committee stated that 'One Nation One Election' ensures ease and convenience to voters, avoids voters' fatigue, and facilitates greater voter turnout.

The Committee was briefed by these bodies that intermittent elections had adverse consequences on economic growth, quality of public expenditure, and educational and other outcomes, besides upsetting social harmony.

The panel headed by former president Kovind had submitted the report in March ahead of the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections.

The proposal will now be tabled in Parliament and must be cleared in both houses the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha - before it becomes the law.

(ANI)

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1st Test: Ashwin-Jadeja Rearguard Act Helps India Reach 339/6 Against Bangladesh

by Shambhu Datta Mishra

Chennai, Sept 19: An unbeaten 195-run partnership between Ravichandran Ashwin, who hit his sixth Test century, and Ravindra Jadeja was the perfect rearguard act India needed to get out of trouble and reach 339/6 in 80 overs at stumps on day one of the series opener against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium Thursday.

In the mid of the second session, India were in a hole at 144/6, before Ashwin (102 not out) and Jadeja (86 not out) ensured India were not just out of trouble but also came out with an advantage and swing day one in their favour.

The fightback from the two veteran spin-bowling all-rounders meant India made 163 runs without losing a wicket in the final session.

Ashwin also notched up his second Test century at his home ground after the 2021 clash against England, which is also his fastest hundred in the longer format for India.

Post lunch, India’s run-scoring spree continued as Jadeja pulled Hasan Mahmud for six, while Ashwin got a fat outside edge running for four and unleashed a neat cover drive off the pacer for two boundaries.

Jadeja welcomed Shakib Al Hasan with a sweep for four, while Ashwin slog-swept him for six. Shakib continued to get attacked as Jadeja slog-swept and then hit a straight drive to collect consecutive fours. Ashwin brought out a glorious on-drive off Nahid Rana for four and survived a short bouncer test from him to get his fifty in 58 balls.

There was no stopping the duo as Jadeja tonked Mehidy Hasan Miraz for a four while Ashwin used Nahid Rana’s pace and bounce to ramp him over the infield and then flicked him for two fours.

After Ashwin swept Shakib for four, Jadeja got his fifty and went on to pull Mehidy for a brace of boundaries, followed by him playing a lovely cover drive off Nahid through the gap for four more.

While Jadeja was pristine in his pull, slog-sweep and drive, Ashwin delighted in coming down the pitch to clobber Mehidy for six and cut Nahid for four before getting his century in 108 balls, much to the delight of the sparse Chepauk crowd, before stumps arrived.

Brief scores: India 339/6 in 80 overs (Ravichandran Ashwin 102 not out, Ravindra Jadeja 86 not out; Hasan Mahmud 4-58) against Bangladesh.

(IANS)

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MUDA: Guv Asks CS To Submit Report On Fresh Accusations Against CM

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Bengaluru, Sep 19: In fresh trouble for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a new submission has been made against him to the Karnataka Governor involving the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

The fresh submission accuses him of carrying out projects worth hundreds of crores in his constituency through oral orders, violating the Karnataka Urban Development Authority Act.

Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot has sought a detailed report from Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh at the earliest in connection with the fresh accusations against CM Siddaramaiah, sources confirmed on Thursday.

The Governor, in his letter to the Chief Secretary dated September 5, stated that one P.S. Nataraj from Mysuru submitted a detailed representation on August 27 in this regard.

The Governor’s letter says, “P.S. Nataraj has informed that the MUDA has undertaken works worth Rs 387 crore in violation of Section 15 and 25 of the Karnataka Urban Development Authority Act, 1987 on the oral instruction of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.”

“The works were taken up in his Assembly constituency Varuna and also in Srirangapatna Assembly constituency,” the letter says.

The petitioner alleged that in spite of non-availability of funds in the authority, a decision was taken on the oral instruction of the Chief Minister.

Further, he alleged that by doing this the authority misused its power and requested an enquiry from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

“Since, the allegation is of a serious nature, it is directed to look into the matter and submit the detailed report along with documents at the earliest,” Gehlot has directed Rajneesh.

The development is likely to stir a huge controversy and be deemed as a setback to CM Siddaramaiah who is already facing accusations of alleged illegal allotment of sites to his wife by the MUDA.

The High Court of Karnataka has reserved the matter for judgment.

The BJP is demanding the CM’s resignation and the fresh accusations are going to be used by the party against CM Siddaramaiah as it plans to intensify its agitation in the state.

--IANS

Union Cabinet approves One Nation, One Election proposal

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