BJP launches digital drive for 'One Nation, One Election' in Raj

Jaipur: The Rajasthan BJP, Friday, launched a digital campaign to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship ‘One Nation, One Election' (ONOE) initiative, linking it with chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma's vision of ‘One State, One Election'.

At a workshop held at the party headquarters in Jaipur, BJP leaders trained workers to promote the campaign using a newly introduced QR code, allowing citizens to digitally endorse the idea. The party aims to build public consensus and prepare the groundwork for aligning local body elections with the state assembly polls.

BJP state president Madan Rathore said the initiative is more than a political exercise. "One Nation, One Election is not merely a political idea but a revolutionary step to strengthen India's democratic system and bring long-term stability to governance. It is the need of the hour," he said.

Rathore asserted that holding Lok Sabha and Assembly elections together would reduce administrative burden and prevent the frequent disruption of development due to repeated imposition of the Model Code of Conduct.

"If elections are synchronised, govts will function without interruption for five years. This will speed up development schemes and save public funds," he added.

The state govt, however, has been criticised for the sluggish pace of implementing its own electoral reform. Critics have pointed delays in the state's efforts, including the absence of a fresh census and the late completion of the delimitation process for local bodies.

Addressing these concerns, Rathore said, "The state's initiative will eventually complement the Union govt's ONOE campaign, bringing consistency in policymaking, speeding up infrastructure and welfare projects, and creating fiscal space to invest in education, healthcare, and rural development."

He also stressed the importance of public involvement. He said, "This reform is not the sole responsibility of the govt or any political party—it is a shared duty of the entire nation. Without public support, such reforms cannot succeed at the grassroots level."