New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly criticized the Union Cabinet’s approval of the ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill, calling it an “authoritarian imposition” aimed at undermining India’s democracy and federal structure.
Mamata’s Opposition
In a post on X, Mamata slammed the bill, which seeks to synchronize Lok Sabha and Assembly elections nationwide, alongside urban body and panchayat polls. She argued that the bill is “unconstitutional” and was pushed through by the Centre without considering the concerns of experts and opposition leaders.
“This is not a carefully considered reform; it’s an authoritarian imposition designed to undermine India’s democracy and federal structure,” she stated.
The Union Cabinet has bulldozed their way through with the unconstitutional and anti-federal One Nation, One Election Bill, ignoring every legitimate concern raised by experts and opposition leaders.
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) December 12, 2024
This is not a carefully-considered reform; it's an authoritarian imposition…
TMC’s Stance
Mamata further declared that her party’s Members of Parliament (MPs) would vigorously oppose the bill in Parliament, vowing that West Bengal will never bow to Delhi’s dictatorial whims.
Opposition’s Concerns
Other opposition parties, including the Congress, have also voiced strong objections to the bill. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh emphasized that the bill contradicts the basic structure of the Constitution and called for it to be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for detailed discussions.
TMC MP Shatrughan Sinha criticized the bill as a distraction from real issues and expressed concerns about the functioning of the Election Commission of India.
Support from BJP Leaders
In contrast, leaders from the BJP have praised the initiative. BJP MP Kangana Ranaut called the bill crucial due to the financial burden frequent elections impose on the government. She pointed out the challenges of low voter turnout and frequent costs of conducting elections every few months.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini also supported the bill, saying it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to reduce financial burdens caused by frequent elections and ensure better governance. He emphasized that the proposal would streamline the election process and prevent misuse of public funds.
Background of the Bill
The ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal aims to hold simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, as well as local body elections, within a 100-day period. A high-level committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind had earlier recommended the initiative, which has now been approved by the Union Cabinet.