At TOI CSR Summit, VP CP Radhakrishnan bats for ‘One Nation, One Election’

NEW DELHI: Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan on Saturday made a strong pitch for the concept of ‘One Nation, One Election’ to enable “stronger decision-making and long-term policy focus” at the Times of India National CSR Summit 2026, where he conferred Nripendra Misra, former principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, retired SC justice Bela M Trivedi and former comptroller and auditor general (CAG) V K Shunglu with lifetime achievement awards for their contributions.

Speaking at the CSR Summit, organised by Times Foundation at Bharat Mandapam, Radhakrishnan underlined the importance of electoral processes in ensuring public participation and accountability. Noting that people always compare China with India, the VP highlighted that both countries are very different, with China having only a single party and India having a multi-party system where elections take place regularly in different states.


“Bihar election is over and now elections are due to take place in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. Once these elections are over, Uttar Pradesh elections will come up next year and so on...” he said. “The performance of a political leadership, not only here, but unfortunately all over the world is not being rated by the real performance for society or the country but by their electoral victories. So, no political party will be in a position to take a strong decision unless ‘One Nation, One Election’ gets implemented,” the VP said.

Misra, who has been recognised for "public leadership and nation building", is currently the chairman of the Executive Council of the Prime Ministers Museum and Library. He is also the chairman of the Temple Construction Committee for Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya.

Among the six other eminent personalities honoured with lifetime achievement awards was former Supreme Court judge Justice Bela M Trivedi, who was honoured for ‘judicial integrity and constitutional service’. Radhakrishnan commended the Times Foundation for convening the Summit and bringing together leadership and ideas with a call for action. Former CAG VK Shunglu was honoured for his contribution to ‘Constitutional stewardship and institutional integrity’.

A highlight of the programme was students from DPS RK Puram and DPS Faridabad rendering the full version of Vande Mataram at the beginning of the programme, to be followed by the national anthem.

Philanthropist Aruna Goenka was conferred with a lifetime achievement award for ‘catalysing hope, nourishment and human dignity’. Atul Chaturvedi, member, National Company Law Tribunal, was conferred with the ‘distinguished public service award’; Dr. Maneesha Shreedhar was conferred with a lifetime achievement award for ‘global public health leadership and institutional impact’. Agatha K Sangma was conferred with distinguished public leadership award for ‘governance and inclusive national development’.