'One Nation, One Election': Unacceptable, says Congress; Modi calls it 'an important step'

As the Union Cabinet gave the green signal for the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal on Wednesday (September 18), Opposition parties like Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC) have come out strongly against the plan that requires the Constitution to be amended.

The proposal, which is part of the report of the panel headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, has been adopted, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told the media after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. A large number of political parties across the political spectrum have actually supported the 'One Nation, One Election' initiative, he added.

However, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge rubbished the proposal saying simultaneous polls are "completely unacceptable because they are not practical" in the current political situation.

Asked about the issue at a press conference in Delhi, Kharge said, "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."

Further, he added that this is not going to succeed and the people will not accept it. "Elections need to be held as and when required if we want our democracy to survive," Kharge pointed out.

However, reacting to Kharge's remark, Vaishnaw said that, the Opposition might start feeling internal pressure (about 'one nation, one election') as more than 80 per cent of respondents who responded during the consultant process have given their positive support.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on the cabinet's approval of the recommendations of the high-level committee on simultaneous elections calling it an important step in making our democracy even more 'vibrant and participative'.

JD(U) welcomes decision

While TMC called it a 'cheap stunt', BJP's ally Janata Dal (United) welcomed the Union Cabinet's decision saying that such a measure will rid the country of frequent polls, obviate the drain on public exchequer and result in policy continuity.

JD(U) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said 'one nation, one election, will have long-term consequences and bring the country comprehensive benefits. It will also help boost polling, he said in a statement.

The JD(U) is among the parties which have been supportive of the idea of simultaneous elections and has said so in its submission before the committee.

All BJP allies, including Telugu Desam Party and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), have in principle supported the concept, which was on the BJP's manifesto for the recent Lok Sabha polls.

'Cheap stunt'

Meanwhile, TMC leader Derek O'Brien called the 'one nation, one election' a "cheap stunt" of the BJP, and questioned why Maharashtra elections were not announced with Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir if the government is so keen on simultaneous elections.

“One nation, one election is just another cheap stunt by the anti-democratic BJP. Why were Maharashtra elections not announced along with elections in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir?" O'Brien said.

He mocked the BJP for its inability to even hold elections for three states in one go and wanted to know why the Maharashtra elections were not held along with Haryana and J&K?

According to him, the Maharashtra government announced the Ladki Bahin scheme in the Budget this June. The first tranche reached the bank accounts of women in August and the second tranche will reach the beneficiaries in October," he said.

He also sought to know how many Constitution amendments and curtailments of terms of state Assemblies would be required for the implementation of simultaneous polls.

"And also tell us, how many constitution amendments, including curtailing or extending terms of state Assemblies, will be done! Classic Modi-Shah jumla,” he said.

Altering very idea of India: Pinarayi Vijayan

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan too strongly criticised the central government's push for the 'One Nation, One Election' initiative, calling it a concealed agenda aimed at weakening India's federal structure and consolidating power at the center.

In a press release, Vijayan highlighted the dangers posed by the proposal, warning that it undermines the country's parliamentary democracy. He stated that the BJP has failed to learn from its setbacks in the Lok Sabha elections and is now pursuing a plan that could strip states of their autonomy in matters of governance and elections.

"This government’s plan for a single election is part of a larger agenda to erode the federal fabric of India and place all power in the hands of the central government," Vijayan said. He pointed out that Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent announcement on implementing the plan, followed by the central cabinet's approval of the Ram Nath Kovind Committee report, is part of this strategy.

Vijayan warned that the Sangh Parivar is attempting to shift India's electoral politics toward a presidential system, which threatens the diversity and richness of the current parliamentary system. He argued that each state has its own unique political, social, and economic circumstances that need to be considered in electoral processes. A 'One Nation, One Election' model, he stressed, ignores these nuances and could pave the way for the imposition of central rule, bypassing the people's mandate.

The Chief Minister called on democratic forces across the country to resist these efforts, cautioning that the initiative could be the first step in the Sangh Parivar's larger plan to destabilize India's federal system and alter the very idea of India.

"This is not just an attack on the parliamentary system but on the concept of India itself," he declared, urging citizens and political parties to unite in defense of the country’s democratic traditions and federal structure.

Rattled government

More Congress leaders also spoke out against the 'One nation, one election' plan.

Senior Congress leader T S Singhdeo said, "It is only a strategy of political convenience, and what I can see is nothing beyond that. The same party which is governing the country as part of the NDA has been talking about this for the past few years."

Further, he added, "You see their intent. Had they really been proponent of this view that this will be a great benefit to the country and the society...what attempt did they make to ensure that Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections take place at the same time."

Senior Congress leader Harish Rawat said the BJP has realised that they will lose elections in Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra and Jharkhand.

"After losing one state after another, the BJP was not in a position to sustain that pressure that would've resulted in collapse of their coalition government. That's why the rattled government has opted for 'one nation, one election' formula," he said.

Democratic accountability

Meanwhile, AIMIM chief Asadudddin Owaisi too commented saying that he has consistently opposed 'one nation, one election' because it is a solution in search of a problem.

“It destroys federalism and compromises democracy, which are part of the basic structure of the Constitution,” he said.

In a post on X, Owaisi claimed that multiple elections aren’t a problem for anyone except Modi and 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 and periodic elections improve democratic accountability,” the AIMIM chief added.

Cabinet approves proposal

Placing the Kovind panel report before the Union Cabinet was a part of the law ministry's 100-day agenda.

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the proposal for 'one nation, one election' as recommended by the Kovind panel, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced. He called for comprehensive discussion on the issue and said the government will work to evolve a consensus on the issue, which has been strongly opposed by opposition parties.

The high-level committee had recommended simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies as the first step followed by synchronised local body polls within 100 days.

The panel had also proposed setting up of an 'Implementation Group' to look into the execution of the recommendations made by the committee. 

It also recommended the preparation of a common electoral roll and voter ID cards by the Election Commission of India in consultation with state election authorities. 

However, to implement the proposal, the NDA would require two-third majority in Parliament since it involves amending the Constitution. At least six amendments would be required to bring it into effect. After which it has to be ratified by all states and Union Territories.

DMK opposes

Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK said it would continue to oppose the "one nation, one election" plan of the Centre, asserting this has been its position ever since the idea was mooted.

DMK Organising Secretary RS Bharathi said, "we have been opposing this from day one," adding the party would continue to hold on to its stand.

Tamil Nadu's main opposition, AIADMK spokesperson RM Babu Murugavel, did not specify if his party supported or opposed the proposal, stating that "still there is a long way to go," considering aspects including amendments to be carried out and technicalities.

Moving ahead with its "one nation, one election" plan, the union government on Wednesday accepted a high-level panel's recommendations for holding simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and local bodies in a phased manner after a countrywide consensus-building exercise.

AAP calls it 'jumla'

AAP called 'one nation, one election' a "jumla" of the BJP-led Centre and claimed that it is not a practical idea.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak told PTI-Videos that they are opposed to it.

"If a government falls within two-and-a-half years, does the BJP want to rule that state through LG or Governor? This is BJP's jhumla the same way when they brought farm legislation without consulting farmers. They brought demonetisation without consulting experts," Pathak said.

(With inputs from agencies)