New Delhi: Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday ruled out the implementation of the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal during the ongoing electoral term, dismissing what she termed “false propaganda” by opposition parties, media reports said.

Not a Modi-era invention

Speaking at SRM University in Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, Sitharaman emphasised that the concept had been around long before the Modi administration. “This concept was widely discussed during several occasions.
It was not something introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This ‘One Nation, One Election’ was in existence till the 1960s,” she said, urging critics to examine the proposal on its merit rather than dismiss it for political reasons, reported Moneycontrol.

Economic impact front and centre

She cited substantial economic gains from synchronised national and state elections, highlighting reduced costs and growth potential. “If simultaneous elections are held for electing the members of Parliament and Assembly, about 1.5 per cent growth will be added to the country’s GDP. In value terms, Rs 4.50 lakh crore will get added to the economy. This is a black and white example of the ‘One Nation, One Election’ concept,” she was quoted as saying by Moneycontrol.

₹1 lakh crore election tab could be reduced

The minister noted that the cost of conducting the recent Lok Sabha elections stood at around ₹1 lakh crore. A unified election calendar, she argued, could bring this expenditure down significantly.

No rollout before 2034

Clarifying the government’s timeline, Sitharaman said the proposal is a long-term reform that is not slated for immediate implementation. “Simultaneous polls are planned to take place only after 2034 and the groundwork is being laid now for the then President to give his assent,” she said.

Opposition resistance politically motivated

Taking aim at critics, she said the opposition was resisting the proposal not on principle, but for political reasons. “Instead of blindly opposing it, if it has been supported considering its benefit, the ‘One Nation, One Election’ concept will make the country move forward.”

Karunanidhi once backed it, Stalin now resists

She also invoked the legacy of the late DMK stalwart M. Karunanidhi to highlight what she described as a shift in the party’s stance. “The late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi had supported the ‘One Nation, One Election’ concept, but his son and the current Chief Minister (M. K. Stalin) is not following in his father’s footsteps and instead opposing it,” Sitharaman said, according to Moneycontrol.

Meant for national interest, not political gain

Sitharaman reaffirmed that the initiative was intended as a governance reform, not a political vanity project. She said it was “not someone’s pet project” but part of a broader vision for efficient and long-term policymaking.