Latest news with #OneElection
NDTV
2 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Sunil Bharti Mittal Wants CII To Get "More Engaged" With One Nation One Election
New Delhi: Telecom stalwart and Bharti Group Chairman Sunil Mittal on Thursday expressed his strong support for 'One Nation, One Election' as he asserted that frequent elections impact the economy and hinder decisions. Mr Mittal also noted that the world has started to move "very fast" on cryptocurrency, and pointed out that while India has taken a stance against crypto so far, the time has come for regulations and policies to be framed keeping in mind, the changing global context and technological advances. "In my opinion, this is a generational shift, we have to embrace it, adopt it, make use of it for advantage on our side, rather than grappling with the issue and trying to avoid it," Mr Mittal said. Speaking at the CII Annual Business Summit 2025, Mr Mittal also urged the industry body to engage with political parties to spotlight the economic advantages of 'One Nation, One Election'. "One area where I would ask CII to get more engaged Nation, One Election," Mr Mittal said. Mr Mittal admitted it is a "touchy subject" and one that can be termed "outside the boundary of the industry". "But my own belief is that it is a job that is collectively for all of us here," he said. Earlier this year, CII presented strong recommendations for India to move towards 'One Nation, One Election'. "The reason is simple: there are far too many disturbances during elections in terms of economic activities. The code of conduct is ushered in fairly early. Everything stops, government contracts, government payment stops, and a lot of restrictions come on economic activities. Our elections are repeatedly happening every few months, every other year... These multiple elections do create slowdown in our economy," he said. The telecom czar observed that multiple elections create a slowdown in the economy. He urged CII to form a committee, talk to political parties across the spectrum and showcase the benefits it will yield for the country. "Hopefully, we may again have contributed importantly to an issue key for our country's growth...," he said. In doing so, the industry would have done its bit to reaffirm trust and demonstrate that India Inc looks beyond profitability and revenues. "Eventually, my friends, we really need to get there," he added. On crypto, Mr Mittal noted it has started to move at a never-seen-before pace over the last few weeks. "With Trump administration now supporting cryptocurrencies, I think the world has started to move there. India will have to get a handle on it. So far the position was `no'...that crypto will not be allowed, we will try our own digital currency. "But things are shifting so fast that you will have to form a regulation and policy looking at what is going on in the world, and adopt and see what impact it has on us," Mr Mittal said adding that the technology space is indeed moving very fast.
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Business
- India Gazette
Sunil Mittal advocates FTAs and One Nation, One Election for India's economic growth
New Delhi [India] May 29 (ANI): Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal on Thursday praised recently concluded Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and advocated for One Nation, One Election for India's economic growth. Speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry's (CII) Annual Business Summit-2025 in New Delhi, Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said, 'Many new FTAs have been done. The UK has recently signed. Our Prime Minister really pushed hard so that we could get to the FTA with the UK. Australia was done earlier. The UAE FTA has been done recently. The BTA with the US, the FTA with the EU, and the negotiations with Saudi Arabia are in very advanced stages. I think we have to ensure that the government not just merely safeguards our interest while doing the FTAs, which it will be, but it's also important that we as industry and chambers don't ask for things which will make the FTAs difficult.' The central government is negotiating FTAs with the European Union and bilateral trade agreements with the US and many other countries. Mittal said that Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) will benefit both partners, and the industry will play its part. Mittal also advocated for 'One Nation, One Election' as proposed by the Modi government; he highlighted that more frequent elections pause economic growth. 'A lot of restrictions come on the economic activities, and our elections are repeatedly happening every few months, every other year. These multiple elections do create a slowdown in our economy. I think the ruling party and the Prime Minister himself analysed this and realised the importance of having One Nation, One Election, and if you can't do it in one step, perhaps it happens in two steps the first time. But eventually, my friends, we really need to get there,' Mittal said. Highlighting four key pillars for India's growth, he said talent dividend, research and development, trade research, and policy framework are the four main pillars of economic growth. Mittal said that the government is actively reforming, but it also needs support from the industry. 'The government also has certain expectations of us. We need to engage with the government to hear their views, seek their input, and ask what is needed from their side to build in the country. 5G was a fine example. Industry would have taken a few more years. The government engaged with us. Give us a very clear message that India would like to see 5G much faster than is currently being planned,' he said, explaining the need to engage with the government. Mittal said that the Indian industry will do everything possible to create more employment opportunities in the country. 'Industry will do everything possible to generate more employment, spend more in R&D, create import substitution, and expand its export basket. We need your help. We need enabling policies, especially in the area of ease of doing business,' he said. (ANI)
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
MLC Kavitha accuses BRS leaders of trying to merge party with BJP
BRS MLC K Kavitha on Thursday attacked her detractors in the party, alleging that some forces have tried and are trying to merge former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao-led party with the BJP. In a veiled attack on her brother and BRS Working President K T Rama Rao, she alleged that the merger (proposal was brought to her when she was in prison in the national capital in a money laundering case -- Delhi Liquor Police scam case -- last year), which she rejected outright. There was no immediate reaction from the party. In an informal chat with the mediapersons, she questioned the party leaders (not KCR) for not coming to her rescue when her name was being maligned on social media and some sections of vernacular papers. "Instead of controlling the BJP, which is trying to loot Telangana resources, my opinion is that attempts are being made to handover BRS to the BJP. Because when I was in prison, the same proposal was brought to me. I firmly said no. BRS is Sriram Raksha for the Telangana party ," she said. Live Events Also Read: Sunil Mittal backs 'One Nation, One Election', urges CII to highlight economic benefits The internal differences within BRS came to the fore recently with Kavitha taking exception to the letter she wrote to her father and party president Chandrasekhar Rao getting leaked. She also had said some conspiracies are taking place in the party. KCR is like a god who is surrounded by some devils. BRS is the party which has the spirit of Telangana and the root cause of the existence of the state. It should not be merged with a national party and the same was conveyed to her father KCR, she further said. The daughter of KCR also asked why there were no agitations announced when the former CM got notices from the judicial commission on the Kaleshwaram project in Telangana, led by former Supreme Court judge Justice P C Ghose, to appear before it. "What are you celebrating in the United States? I don't understand why we are not celebrating anything at the grassroots level?," she asked her brother, Rama Rao, without taking his name. Rama Rao is currently touring the USA and UK. Also Read: Shashi Tharoor slams 'zealots'; says was clearly speaking only about reprisals for terrorist attacks Rama Rao last week, responding to a question about the letter written by his sister to the BRS president and her comments that KCR is surrounded by some "devils", he said that internal party matters should be discussed within the party instead of speaking out in public. Kavitha said she offered to resign from the MLC post when she was arrested in the money laundering case. However KCR said it was not required. She also accused some party leaders' role in getting her defeated in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Nizamabad segment. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Political appointments on agenda as BJP gears up for Nadda's visit
Jaipur: BJP is gearing up for the one-day visit to Jaipur of its national president, J P Nadda, on May 31. The visit comes at a time when the state unit is preparing for organisational restructuring and long-pending political appointments. BJP state president Madan Rathore Wednesday instructed all senior leaders to attend a likely high-level feedback and coordination meeting with Nadda. The agenda, according to party insiders, includes finalising appointments to boards, corporations, and other key posts, many of which have remained vacant since the party returned to power. This will be Nadda's first visit to Jaipur after the formation of the new govt under chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma in Dec 2023. Apart from organisational matters, Nadda is expected to hold a closed-door meeting with CM Bhajan Lal Sharma to review the state govt's performance and political strategy. "The points of discussion would be govt's performance in the past one-and-a-half years, cabinet expansion, status of flagship schemes, and moves like One State, One Election," said a source. Nadda is scheduled to land in Jaipur at 12 noon and will proceed directly to a private hotel to attend a special event marking the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar. Sources reveal that Nadda will not only review pending political appointments but also discuss the state executive's reconstitution. Rathore has reportedly submitted a list of proposed names for induction into the state executive. The state govt is set to organize a program dedicated to women's empowerment on the occasion of Ahilyabai Holkar's 300th birth anniversary. The event, scheduled for May 31, will be attended by national BJP president and union health and family welfare minister JP Nadda.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Pawan Kalyan questions DMK's opposition to ‘One Nation, One Election'; recalls Karunanidhi's support
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Monday (May 26, 2025) said Tamil Nadu isn't a stranger to the concept of 'One Nation, One Election' as it has experienced simultaneous elections from 1952 to 1967. He pointed out that former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, whose DMK is opposing the policy today, had insisted that simultaneous elections must continue in Tamil Nadu when the cycle was broken after 1967. Speaking at a seminar on 'One Nation, One Election' in Chennai, Mr. Kalyan said simultaneous elections were not an untested theory; 'our country had successfully implemented it in its formative years,' and the policy is not just a political reform, but also economical, administrative, and governance reform. 'In the most difficult early decades, Bharat demonstrated remarkable unity and administrative capability by holding synchronised elections for two decades. Today, whoever is opposing 'One Nation One Election' should read Kalaignar Karunanidhi's argument in favour of simultaneous elections in 'Nenjukku Needhi'. He urged the Centre to constitute a committee to restore simultaneous elections. That's what is being done today. National leadership is implementing the vision and dreams of Kalaignar Karunanidhi. It is strange that Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin is opposing what his father proposed,' he said. Mr. Kalyan said there is wastage of public funds, loss of man-days and focus, and constant mudslinging by various political parties. 'Development is taking a backseat. If young and resource-constrained India could achieve a system akin to 'One Nation, One Election', then what is preventing a strong, technologically advanced Bharat from achieving it now? Ruling parties are constantly strategising for the next election – formulating populist measures and deploying leaders for campaigns... this can sometimes lead to policy decisions being influenced by electoral considerations rather than genuine needs of the people,' he said. Mr. Kalyan said the argument that such a policy would benefit the national parties instead of regional parties, considering the examples of Odisha in 2019 and 2024 and Telangana, doesn't have any strength. 'In 2019, people of Odisha opted for a regional party in the State and the BJP in Parliament. The DMK and INDI Alliance argue that it is anti-federal. If it is so, why did Kalaignar Karunanidhi support it? I only request CM Stalin to revisit and consider its potential,' he said. Meeting reporters after the event, Mr. Kalyan said people are smart and they know how to vote. He added he doesn't want to underestimate actor Vijay and his entry into politics.
