Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Goa has extended its support to the proposed One Nation, One Election initiative, with Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant stating that both the state government and the people of Goa back the proposal aimed at holding simultaneous elections across the country.
Speaking after meeting the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 during its study visit to Goa, Dr. Sawant said the state government had shared its suggestions with the committee and highlighted the potential benefits of synchronised elections.
The Chief Minister said simultaneous elections would promote development-focused governance by reducing frequent election cycles, enabling governments to focus more on policy implementation and long-term development. He expressed confidence that the committee would positively consider the suggestions received from Goa while preparing its recommendations.
“We support One Nation, One Election. The Goa government and the people of Goa are in favour of the proposal, which will benefit both the state and the nation,” Dr. Sawant said.
Joint Parliamentary Committee Chairperson P. P. Choudhari also said Goa’s ministers expressed support for the proposal during the interaction, agreeing that simultaneous elections would be beneficial for the country.
Choudhari said the committee is currently undertaking extensive stakeholder consultations across the country and is gathering suggestions and views from governments, organisations and other stakeholders before finalising its report on the proposed legislation.
He further stated that even before a law is enacted, some state governments may voluntarily align their election schedules with the proposed nationwide election cycle by 2029. However, he noted that the number of states choosing to do so would depend on future decisions and evolving circumstances.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee is examining the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seek to pave the way for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. The committee’s visit to Goa forms part of its nationwide consultation process before submitting its recommendations to Parliament.
