Agartala, Feb 26 (PTI) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Wednesday said 'one nation, one election' (ONOE) is the need of the hour for improving the country's administrative and economic efficiency.

Speaking at an event here, Saha said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi made efforts to implement ONOE in 2019, but was unsuccessful. However, last year the PM was able to get the Bills tabled in the Lok Sabha. If passed, it will strengthen administrative efficiency." Saha said holding elections for Lok Sabha, assemblies and civic bodies have become increasingly expensive.

"More than Rs 60,000 crore was spent on the 2019 general elections. This rose to around Rs 1.35 lakh crore in 2024. Political parties also huge amounts to win elections. If this money is saved through simultaneous elections, the country's GDP will grow," he said.

Saha asserted that the BJP had promised to implement ONOE in its 1984 election manifesto.

"In the last two Lok Sabha elections—2019 and 2024—the BJP promised to implement ONOE to save money and ensure continuity in development. If polls are not held simultaneously, the election cycle disrupts development due to the model code of conduct. It's now the need of the hour to go for simultaneous elections," he added.

Saha further noted that simultaneous elections were held in India until 1967.

"The country used to have a simultaneous election system until 1967, but this was disrupted in 1968. If ONOE is implemented, democracy will be strengthened. There’s a need to raise awareness, especially among the business community, about the advantages of simultaneous elections," he added.

"If countries like Japan, Germany, and USA can hold simultaneous elections, why can’t we implement the same in our country?" he asked. PTI PS MNB

One nation, one election could reduce election costs and improve administrative and economic efficiency nationwide. Advocacy for One Nation, One Election presents simultaneous scheduling of national, state and local polls as a means to reduce electoral and administrative costs, prevent development disruption from the model code of conduct, and improve continuity in governance. It notes that enabling bills have been tabled in the national legislature, that the proposal has featured in a major party manifesto, and that India previously practised simultaneous elections until the late 1960s.