The Kerala Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution against the Central government's ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, a controversial plan endorsed by the Ramnath Kovind Committee.
The resolution, introduced by State Parliamentary Affairs Minister M.B. Rajesh on behalf of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who was unable to attend due to health reasons, was presented under Rule 118 of the Assembly Procedures. Rajesh, while introducing the resolution, criticised the proposal as both "undemocratic" and "unconstitutional," suggesting that it undermines the federal structure of India and weakens the nation's parliamentary democracy.
In a state where the BJP holds no legislative representation, it was widely anticipated that the resolution would pass without opposition. The Kerala Assembly, consisting of 140 members, has no BJP legislators or allies from the NDA, making the unanimous decision a foregone conclusion. Both ruling and opposition parties expressed their concerns, particularly highlighting the potential dangers of such a proposal.
Minister Rajesh emphasised that while the committee report cites cost reduction as a benefit, this is only a superficial justification. He argued that the true intention behind the proposal is to centralise power, aligning with the agenda of the BJP and its ideological affiliate, the RSS. He warned that such a move could erode India’s diverse and pluralistic democracy by imposing a more homogenous political structure.
This view is not limited to the ruling party in Kerala. Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan has also voiced similar concerns in recent public statements. Satheesan, along with Chief Minister Vijayan, had earlier expressed their apprehension regarding the ‘One Nation, One Election’ concept, labelling it as impractical and ill-suited to the unique needs of Indian democracy.
The opposition in the Kerala Assembly echoed these sentiments during the debate, reinforcing the stance that implementing a single election system for both state and national elections would disrupt India’s complex electoral system. They suggested that the proposal is not feasible given the country’s vast diversity and the need for a decentralised political structure.
Adding to the critique, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the second-largest party in Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, strongly opposed the proposal.
The CPI described it as a ploy by the Sangh Parivar, a coalition of right-wing Hindu nationalist organisations, to impose a uniformity that could threaten India’s pluralism. The CPI argued that the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal is part of a broader agenda to promote "one tax, one language, one culture, and one religion."
In their statement, the CPI highlighted their concern that the BJP and RSS are striving for increased centralization in all aspects of governance. They pointed out that the push for "one election" aligns with previous efforts to standardise and centralise various facets of Indian society, which they believe risks eroding the country’s vibrant democracy and political diversity. The party sees this as a step towards a scenario where "one election, one party, and one leader" becomes the norm.
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