“Intellectuals’ Conference on ‘One Nation, One Election’ Organized by Swarnim Dev Bhoomi Foundation”

Press Release

On May 2, 2025, an Intellectuals’ Conference on the topic of One Nation, One Election was organized by the Swarnim Dev Bhoomi Foundation at the Survey of India Auditorium, Hathibarkala.

The event was presided over by BJP State President Mahendra Bhatt, who welcomed and honored intellectuals from various sections of society. He also extended warm greetings to BJP National General Secretary Sunil Bansal and Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami. Addressing the audience, Bhatt emphasized that the national discourse around One Nation, One Election aims to make India a stronger and more developed democracy. He noted that this bill would bring economic efficiency and accelerate national development, fostering deep societal discussions.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, while addressing the gathering, welcomed all attendees and remarked that the large presence of intellectuals from diverse communities signifies society’s readiness to participate in the One Nation, One Election initiative. He lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership over the past 11 years, highlighting the country’s rise to the fifth-largest economy, soon to be the third. He stressed that the recurring elections in Uttarakhand severely impact the state’s economy and administrative efficiency due to frequent imposition of the Model Code of Conduct. According to NITI Aayog, a unified election system would not only save financial resources but also streamline policy implementation.

National General Secretary Sunil Bansal, as the keynote speaker, commended Chief Minister Dhami for implementing the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand, making the state a national example. Reflecting on the history of Indian elections, Bansal mentioned that the country began with 173 million voters in its first election, which has grown to over 960 million in 2024. He stated that to maintain a strong democracy, One Nation, One Election has become a necessity.

He recalled past reforms in voting rights and methods—from paper ballots to electronic voting, and the voting age being reduced from 21 to 18 years. Highlighting the disruptions caused by frequent elections over the past 30 years, he cited how policy and development projects are repeatedly delayed and budgets overrun. He criticized former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s decision to conduct elections in different states based on political motives.

Bansal shared that under the leadership of Ram Nath Kovind, a national committee is actively discussing the One Nation, One Election proposal, with 47 organizations contributing their perspectives. He cited Maharashtra as an example where election-related disruptions due to the Model Code of Conduct lasted nearly 300 days.

According to him, if India adopts a unified election system, it will allow for better manpower utilization, less politicization, more development-focused governance, and a boost to voter interest and participation. He projected that this could increase the national GDP by 1.5%, reduce unnecessary expenses, generate more economic opportunities for youth, and curb dynastic politics.

He urged everyone to carry this discussion to every corner of society and contribute actively to this mission, helping turn it into a people’s movement under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government continues to work for the benefit of every citizen, especially those at the margins of society.

Also present at the event were Padma Shri awardees Anil Joshi, Kanhaiya Lal Pokhriyal, and Basanti Devi, along with BJP State General Secretary (Organization) Ajay Kumar. They all echoed the call for widespread social dialogue on One Nation, One Election to strengthen democracy and drive national progress.

The event was anchored by Siddharth Umesh Agrawal.
Ramesh Gadiya, Patron, Swarnim Dev Bhoomi Foundation.

Dignitaries Present:
Uttarakhand Cabinet Ministers Ganesh Joshi and Saurabh Bahuguna; Mayor Saurabh Thapliyal; MLA Savita Kapoor; Minister of State Jyoti Prasad Gairola; Balraj Pasi; Vinay Rohilla; Dr. Devendra Bhasin; Mrs. Vinod Uniyal; Anil Goyal; Shyam Agrawal; Surendra Rana; Vijendra Thapliyal; Sanket Nautiyal; Uma Naresh Tiwari; Pradeep Kumar; Akshat Jain; Sunil Sharma; Govind Mohan; Mohit Sharma; Ratan Singh Chauhan; Poonam Mamgai; Pawan Tripathi, and other party workers.

Respectfully Submitted,
Siddharth Agrawal
President
Swarnim Dev Bhoomi Foundation