Speaking to reporters on Saturday after the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting on the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, Rane said India, despite being the world's largest democracy and one of its most populous nations, can successfully implement simultaneous elections.
"Our country is the largest democracy in the world and such a diverse country. If we can manage logistically to implement One Nation, One Election, then it is going to be a game changer for the country," she said.
Rane acknowledged that implementing the proposal would require significant constitutional changes and stronger safeguards against political defections.
"We have to make a lot of amendments to the Constitution, and anti-defection laws will have to be really stringent and effectively enforced," she said.
Highlighting the financial impact of frequent elections, Rane said simultaneous polls would save "crores and crores of taxpayers' money" currently spent on repeated electoral exercises.
"Every time elections are held, people feel that public money is again being spent on elections. Voters are also tired of going to the polling booth repeatedly for Lok Sabha, Assembly, Zilla Panchayat and Panchayat elections," she said.
She argued that the frequent enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct disrupts governance, delays administrative decisions, and affects the functioning of key government departments.
"When the Model Code of Conduct is in force, the government doesn't function effectively. Administrative work gets delayed, and thousands of government employees are deployed for election duties, affecting departments like education, health and social welfare," Rane said.
Referring to Goa's tourism-driven economy, she said repeated election cycles also impact investment and economic activity.
"Ours is a tourism state. Every few months there is a code of conduct, and governance comes to a standstill. Investors don't like uncertainty over which party will come to power. If elections are held together, investments and employment will increase because there will be a greater sense of stability," she said.
Rane reiterated the BJP's support for the proposal but stressed that its implementation would require careful planning due to the country's size and diversity.
"We have definitely supported it because of its many advantages. But logistically, given the size of our country, a lot of deliberations and constitutional amendments are required. It cannot happen overnight," she said.
She also noted that simultaneous elections would likely be conducted in phases over a period of weeks rather than on a single day.
"The entire country can go to elections in phases over a month or two months. But at least it will happen once in five years instead of different states going to polls every few months," she said.
On whether the proposal could be implemented before the 2027 Goa Assembly elections, Rane said she does not expect it to happen so soon.
"I don't see it happening for the 2027 elections. The deliberations for a country as large as India will take time. As discussed today, it may first be implemented in a few states, perhaps around 2032 or 2034," she said.
