Thursday, 19 September 2024
Thursday, 19 September 2024
The Union Cabinet accepted the ‘One nation, one election’ report of the former president Ramnath Kovind-led high level committee on Wednesday.
The committee was formed in September 2023 and submitted its report in March this year. The report recommended simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies as the first step, followed by synchronised local body polls within 100 days.
The members of the Kovind committee included Union home minister Amit Shah, Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, chairman of the fifteenth finance commission N.K.Singh, constitutional expert Subhash Kashyap, advocate Harish Salve and former central vigilance commissioner Sanjay Kothari.
The “One Nation, one Election” concept dates back to 1983, when it was first proposed by the Election Commission, and aimed at streamlining the election process and reducing electoral costs. India followed this practice between 1952 and 1967 before it was disrupted.
As the third term of the BJP-led NDA government completes 100 days in office, sources said that the government will implement ‘one nation, one election’ within its current tenure.
A political war of words erupted soon after the Union Cabinet approved the ‘one nation, one election’.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Wednesday that the Union Cabinet approving the recommendation to hold national and state elections is an important step towards making India’s democracy even more vibrant and participative.
“The Cabinet has accepted the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections. I compliment our former president, Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji for spearheading this effort and consulting a wide range of stakeholders,” the PM said in a post on X.
PM Modi has been a vigorous advocate of “one nation, one election”. In his Independence Day address last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong pitch for ‘one nation, one election’, contending that frequent polls were creating hurdles to the country’s progress. During the Lok Sabha polls, Modi advocated one nation, one election in an interview with ANI.
Union home minister Amit Shah claimed that the “One nation, one election” plan would be implemented in the current term of the NDA government, an issue being advocated by Modi since his first term.
Government managers said most NDA allies were on board, according to the PTI.
According to an NDTV report, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, while briefing the press, said over 80% of the people who were reached out during the consultations over one Nation, one Election had supported the proposal.
“The Opposition may face internal pressure to support the move, as over 80% of the respondents, particularly the youth, sounded positive during the consultation process,” he said.
Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur urged citizens to switch to the 'One nation, one election' or simultaneous election mode, in which both the Lok Sabha and assembly polls can be held together.
At the 'NDTV Yuva - Youth For Change' event, Thakur, said the advantages of simultaneous elections include huge cost savings that can be used on other important areas, according to reports by NDTV.
JD(S) leader and Union steel minister H.D. Kumaraswamy praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet’s decision accepting ‘one nation, one election’ recommendation as a “historic step” towards improving India’s electoral system.
He said the Janata Dal (Secular) welcomes the ‘one nation, one election’ system.
The BJP ally Shiv Sena, led by Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde, welcomed the Union Government’s decision to accept a high-level panel’s recommendations for holding simultaneous polls. MP Shrikant Shinde, said in a statement that besides reducing expenditure, the measure will foster national unity by synchronizing the election process.
“By holding simultaneous elections, the nation can focus on its long-term goals of economic and social development, ensuring that governance remains effective throughout elected terms,” he said
Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Monday lashed out at the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre over the ‘one nation, one election’ issue, saying it is not possible under the present Constitution and requires at least five constitutional amendments.
He asserted that there were greater constitutional obstacles to ‘one nation, one election’. “It is not possible. The INDIA bloc is totally opposed to ‘One Nation, One Election.”
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday alleged that the BJP comes up with such things to divert attention from real issues when elections approach.
Kharge said at a press conference, “It is not practical. It will not work. When elections come, and they are not getting any issues to raise, then they divert attention from real issues.”
Senior TMC MP Derek O’Brien claimed that the one nation, one election issue is just “another cheap stunt” of the BJP. “Why were Maharashtra elections not announced along with elections in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir? Here’s why. The Maharashtra government announced the Ladki Bahin scheme in the budget this June,” he said in a statement.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi opposed ‘One nation one election’ as it destroys federalism and compromises democracy.
“Multiple elections aren’t a problem for anyone except Modi & Shah. Just because they have a compulsive need to campaign in even municipal & local body elections does not mean that we need simultaneous polls. Frequent & periodic elections improve democratic accountability,” Owaisi said.
Criticising the proposal for ‘one nation, one election’, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday alleged that the BJP wanted only one party to rule the country as well as the states.
Addressing a government function in Jamtara district, he said, “I just came to know that the Union Cabinet approved the proposal for ‘one nation, one election’. Now, they (BJP) want only one party to rule this country and only one government in place... be it the country or the states. There will be no other government.”
“These people, who disrupt communal harmony, always want to rule,” he added.
Karnataka deputy chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday said simultaneous elections are not possible in a democracy like India.
“As regional parties are growing, they don’t want them to grow, so they are making these efforts. All parties should give an equal opportunity in this country,” Shivakumar added. The state Congress president stressed on the need for “bringing in consensus and unanimity in opinion among all parties” in this regard.
Three former high court chief justices and one former state election commissioner were among those who objected to the idea of ‘one nation, one election’ during the consultations by a high-level committee headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind.
Four former Supreme Court chief justices -- Justice Dipak Misra, Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde and Justice U.U. Lalit -- the committee consulted wrote that they were in favour of holding simultaneous elections, according to the Kovind panel’s report.
