BJP MP Thakur bats for ‘one nation, one poll’

BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Tuesday said the implementation of the ‘one nation, one election’ formula would be a win-win situation for the country as it would not just cut the expenses incurred in conducting various polls but also save a lot of time.

“Elections were held in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir within a few months of the Lok Sabha polls (last year). Then elections were held in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Delhi. So, there are at least five Assembly elections in a year.

“If all the polls are held simultaneously, it will reduce the expenditure, save time and increase the voting percentage as well,” Thakur told reporters in Srinagar on the sidelines of a party event on ‘one nation, one election’ (ONOE).

The former Union Minister said conducting simultaneous polls would reduce the expenditure of the candidates, political parties and help the country save money.

To a question on the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Thakur said the BJP has promised it and “J-K will get it”.

Asked about the situation in the Jammu region, which witnessed a spate of terror attacks in the recent past, Thakur said the BJP has zero tolerance policy towards terrorism.

Asked whether some BJP leaders were trying to put pressure on the Supreme Court over the challenges to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, the former Union Minister said, “We are not putting any pressure on anyone. Our national president has made it clear. The Congress and the Opposition parties created fear and misled the people on issues such as Articles 370 and 35A, triple talaq, Ram Mandir and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). When these cases went to the SC, the government’s stand was proven right,” he said.

J & K