PM Modi calls for higher polling, discussion on 'one nation, one election'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed concern over low voting percentage especially in urban areas considered educated and prosperous and said this should change in a vibrant democracy like IndiaIn an interaction with BJP workers from across the country Mr Modi also raised the issues of one nation one election and one nation one voters list saying that continuous cycle of elections result in politics being seen in everything while development works sufferHis address coincided with the National Voters Day on TuesdayWhile noting that the voting percentage rose from 4537 in the first Lok Sabha polls in 195152 to 67 37 in 2019 he said the rise in woman voters participation was a good thing but added that everyone from citizens to members of different political parties should think over low pollingIt is seen that urban areas which are considered educated and prosperous have low polling he said lamenting that their residents discuss elections on social media but dont go to voteMr Modi asked the BJPs panna pramukhs and other ground workers to work to ensure 7537 polling in every electionPolling is the most sacred donation to strengthen democracy the Prime Minister said lauding the Election Commission for its several initiatives to increase pollingReferring to the recently passed legislation which seeks voters to link their Aadhaar number and voter ID he said it will boost transparencyPushing for discussion on one nation one election and one nation one voters list he said let different point of views emergeEven this interaction with BJP panna pramukhs those in charge of one page of voters list of a booth is linked to elections he said adding that he had been planning such an interaction for some timeAssembly polls in Uttar Pradesh Punjab Uttarakhand Goa and Manipur will be held in seven phases beginning next month The audio interaction was earlier meant only for Gujarat BJP workers but was later expanded to include party members from different parts of the countryMr Modi has often pushed for holding elections from that of Lok Sabha to state assemblies and local bodies simultaneously saying frequent polls hamper development works and make people impute political motives every step of a governmentOn the National Voters Day held to mark the Election Commissions foundation in 1950 Mr Modi praised the poll watchdog and noted it enjoys wide support from different political parties and institutionThe EC also enjoys powers like issuing notices and transferring officers that its counterparts in other democracies do not he said noting that the makers of the Constitution knew that a lively democracy was possible only when there is a strong and unbiased electoral processIn his address Mr Modi also urged BJP workers to run campaign with peoples participation against malnutrition so that a healthy India emerges by 2047 the centenary year of its independenceThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever