New Delhi [India], December 14: Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Akhilesh Yadav has strongly criticized the Union government’s ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, suggesting that the ruling government should dissolve and hold fresh elections if they are so eager to implement the plan. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Yadav remarked, “If they are in such a hurry to bring One Nation One Election, today PM Modi is coming to Parliament, he should dissolve the government and hold elections again. It is the best time to dissolve the government when we are having a debate on the Constitution.”
Yadav’s comments come as the debate around the proposal intensifies. The Congress party has also expressed opposition, with MP Karti Chidambaram declaring that the Congress, along with several regional parties like the DMK, will resist the move, calling it an attempt to erode India’s federal structure. Chidambaram emphasized the importance of multiple state elections for democracy, allowing citizens the chance to endorse or reject political parties.
The proposal to implement simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies will be introduced by Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on December 16. The introduction of ‘The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024’ in the Lok Sabha will pave the way for aligning elections in various states, including Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry.
Opposition leaders like Congress MP Jairam Ramesh have also raised concerns, calling for the bill to be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee. Ramesh argued that the bill undermines democracy and further centralized power. He reiterated that the Congress party had already made clear its opposition to the proposal in a letter to former President Ram Nath Kovind’s committee.
The bill, which received approval from the Union Cabinet on December 12, has sparked a debate, with opposition parties accusing the government of sidelining the federal structure, while BJP-led NDA allies welcome the move, citing its potential to streamline elections and save time.
The ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative, which aims to synchronize Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, as well as urban body and panchayat polls, is backed by a report from a high-level panel chaired by former President Kovind. Prime Minister Modi has praised the proposal, calling it a significant step towards enhancing India’s democracy.