Opposition Parties Cite Federalism and Diversity as Major Challenges to Simultaneous Elections; BJP Stands Firm on Unified Poll Vision
Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh), December 13: The proposal for ‘One Nation, One Election,’ recently approved by the Union Cabinet, has sparked a heated debate across political lines in India. Samajwadi Party (SP) leader ST Hasan, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, and Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja have voiced strong opposition to the idea, citing challenges posed by India’s diverse cultural, legal, and political landscape.
“The ‘One Nation, One Election’ rule is not feasible in a country like ours,” said SP leader ST Hasan. “India’s varied cultures and religious laws make this concept impractical. It seems like a conspiracy to centralize power, which could alter the Constitution. Today, they talk about one election; tomorrow, it might be one culture or even one religion,” Hasan stated during an interaction with ANI.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi echoed similar sentiments, labeling the proposal as an attack on federalism. “The Congress party firmly opposes this bill. It undermines the federal structure and deserves comprehensive discussion in Parliament,” he said.
Communist Party of India leader D Raja also dismissed the proposal as unworkable. “Our party has clearly conveyed its disagreement to the Law Commission and the high-level committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind. A diverse country like India cannot accommodate such a concept,” he remarked.
While the BJP and its allies in the NDA have welcomed the proposal, arguing that it would streamline election processes and reduce expenditure, opposition leaders remain skeptical about its practical implementation. AIUDF MLA and General Secretary Dr. Rafiqul Islam described the proposal as “very difficult and almost impossible” to implement effectively in India’s vast and complex political environment.
“They (BJP) lack the majority to pass the bill in Parliament and may send it to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). Even if forcefully implemented, the sustainability of such a system is questionable,” Islam said.
The ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, which aims to conduct simultaneous Lok Sabha, Assembly, urban body, and panchayat elections within 100 days, has been championed by a high-level committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind. While proponents argue it will save time and foster electoral uniformity, critics warn that it risks undermining the nation’s democratic and federal foundations.
With both sides firmly entrenched in their positions, the bill is set to be a contentious issue in the upcoming Parliamentary session.