Guwahati: Gauhati University Hosts National Seminar on ‘One Nation, One Election’

Staff reporter

Guwahati: A national seminar on “One Nation, One Election: Need of the Hour” was organized on Tuesday by Gauhati University (GU) bringing together scholars, policy experts, and students for an in-depth dialogue on the proposed electoral reform.

Addressing the gathering, Prof. Harbansh Dixit, Adviser to the Raj Bhawan Secretariat, Assam, said that simultaneous elections could streamline governance and enhance democratic efficiency. He outlined the administrative and constitutional aspects of the proposal, referencing the high-level committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind. Prof. Dixit drew parallels with the Rajya Sabha’s rotational retirement model to suggest solutions for aligning the terms of Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University, Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta, highlighted the need to view democracy through both procedural and substantive lenses. “Unified elections over a fixed two-month period with a single application of the Model Code of Conduct could reduce governance disruptions while safeguarding federalism,” he said. He also cited the Kovind Committee’s findings, indicating substantial political backing for the reform.

Seminar Chairperson Prof. Sanjay Kumar Singh, Head of the Department of Library and Information Sciences, welcomed participants and stressed that synchronized elections could ease the administrative burden on institutions and personnel.

Delivering his address as the seminar’s resource person, Sunil Kumar Bansal pointed out the enormous financial and logistical demands of frequent elections. “The 2024 general election cost approximately Rs 1.35 lakh crore and required more than one crore personnel,” he said, advocating for simultaneous elections as a step towards better governance and sustainable development.

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