Samvidhan Support Group Calls for Immediate ONOE Implementation and Plans Protest

New Delhi, March 21 (NationPress) Amid the ongoing political disputes between the Centre and opposition parties regarding ‘One Nation, One Election’ (ONOE), a local organization made up of lawyers, professors, and students is advocating for its swift execution. The volunteer group known as the 'Samvidhan Support Group' convened a press conference on Friday to announce their intentions to initiate protests and peaceful marches aimed at compelling the government to gain parliamentary approval and subsequent implementation.

Significantly, the panel on ONOE, led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, presented a detailed report advocating simultaneous elections in March and proposed local elections within a 100-day framework. This initiative has long been supported by PM Modi for its potential to reduce election costs, although the Opposition has expressed skepticism. A bill was introduced in Parliament last year to facilitate this scheme, igniting heated discussions.

In the meantime, the Samvidhan Support Group has detailed plans for a second wave of demonstrations in support of ONOE, with the aim of garnering public backing for this significant electoral reform.

The organization intends to launch ‘awareness campaigns’ across various colleges in Delhi University, covering both North and South Campuses, within the next few days.

A day-long fasting protest is scheduled for March 26 at Jantar Mantar, where over 1,000 youths and volunteers are expected to gather to advocate for the proposed reform. The following day, March 27, they will conduct a peaceful march from Dr Ambedkar’s statue to the Parliament building to press for their electoral reform demands.

Harsh Dahia, a Supreme Court lawyer and a leading member of the Samvidhan Support Group, stated that the objective of their campaign is to ensure the prompt implementation of the ‘One Nation, One Election’ policy.

“Group volunteers will engage in fasting and further strategize for future actions,” he mentioned.

Devendra Bhardwaj, a professor and fellow volunteer, emphasized that it is time for the nation to revert to the 1967 model and set a precedent by conducting simultaneous elections.

The ONOE has been a longstanding demand, particularly due to the ongoing nature of elections in the country, which incurs substantial public expenditure annually. Should ONOE be realized, it will not only enhance the electoral framework by synchronizing elections across 28 states and the Central elections but will also significantly reduce costs, with experts estimating a potential boost to India’s GDP by about 1.5 percent.