The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Congress leaders have voiced strong opposition to the recent approval of the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal by the Modi government. They argue that the proposal undermines federalism and compromises the democratic framework of India.
Asaduddin Owaisi criticised the proposal, stating that it “destroys federalism” and threatens the basic structure of the Indian Constitution. He emphasised that simultaneous elections would not address any significant issue and is merely a distraction from pressing national concerns. Owaisi believes that frequent elections enhance democratic accountability rather than hinder it.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also expressed his disapproval, labelling the proposal as impractical. He suggested that it is a tactical move by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to shift focus from their failures ahead of the elections. Congress leader KC Venugopal echoed this sentiment, claiming that the proposal is a diversion rather than a viable solution.
Supriya Shrinate from the Congress party argued that the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative is an attempt to shift attention away from the government’s shortcomings. She pointed out that the government often approves various proposals only to later retract or amend them.
Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra highlighted that implementing such a proposal would require significant legal amendments, which he believes the current government lacks the majority to achieve.
He also accused the government of using the proposal to divert attention from its failures, referencing the unimplemented women’s reservation bill as an example.
Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa questioned the feasibility of the proposal, noting the ongoing phased elections in Jammu and Kashmir. He expressed scepticism about the promise of simultaneous elections, suggesting that political realities might lead to differing outcomes.
On the other hand, the Union Cabinet approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, which aims to synchronise Lok Sabha and state assembly elections, along with urban body and panchayat polls. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that the proposal was accepted unanimously and would be implemented in two phases.
The first phase involves synchronising Lok Sabha and state assembly elections, while the second phase will align local body elections with these. Vaishnaw emphasised that the proposal would be discussed extensively across various platforms to build a consensus.
The high-level committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which submitted the report to President Droupadi Murmu earlier this year, has outlined several benefits of simultaneous elections.
The committee’s report, comprising 18,626 pages, argues that holding elections together would reduce uncertainty, improve policy making, and enhance voter convenience.
The report, based on extensive consultations and research, suggests that simultaneous elections could mitigate the adverse effects of frequent elections on economic growth and public administration. However, the proposal must be debated and approved by both houses of Parliament before it can become law.
Follow us
