Dharamshala, April 18 (UNI) A one-day seminar on ‘One Nation, One Election’ was organized by the Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) in the seminar hall of Dhauladhar Campus-I of the CUHP. The objective of the seminar was to discuss the possibilities, challenges and effects of conducting simultaneous elections in India.
Pooja Awasthi Public Relations Officer CUHP, said eminent educationists, policy-makers and students participated in the seminar and the keynote speaker was Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sat Prakash Bansal.
JR Katwal, MLA, chaired and conducted the seminar and guided the discussion. Prof Shashikant Sharma, Head of Department, Department of Journalism, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, was a special speaker.
Prof Pradeep Kumar, Dean Studies, in his welcome address, emphasised the need for electoral reforms to strengthen democracy. JR Katwal, retired IAS officer and MLA, presented a broad outline of the topic and said that simultaneous elections would reduce electoral expenditure substantially and reduce election-related violence. He criticised the disruptions in policy continuity and governance due to the frequently implemented Code of Conduct (MCC).
Prof. Shashikant Sharma highlighted the legal and constitutional aspects of ONOE. He said that to implement this reform, extensive amendments in the Constitution would be necessary so that the tenure of the Central and state assemblies could be coordinated.
Vice Chancellor Prof Sat Prakash Bansal underlined the role of teachers and said that they play an important role in building responsible citizens and expanding democratic consciousness. He supported the principle of “Reform, Perform, Transform” and linked ONOE with broader governance measures such as “One Nation, One Membership”.
He reiterated the thoughts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that ‘One Nation, One Election’ is not just a matter of debate, but is the need of the hour.
Prof Suman Sharma, Registrar, CUHP thanked the guests, speakers, organizers and participants. The programme was coordinated under the guidance of Prof. Surya Rashmi Rawat, Chairperson, SPARSH Apex Committee, Centre for Women's Studies and Development and Nodal Officer of the seminar and in collaboration with Dr Ruchi Sharma, HPKV Business School, CUHP.
UNI AR PRS