As per the report, 62 parties approached the high-level committee on ‘one nation, one election’ out of which 47 responded — 32 in support of holding elections simultaneously, 15 against it.
One Nation, One Election: Opposition parties who approached the high-level committee on ‘one nation, one election’ flagged the violation of India’s federal polity and the basic structure of the Constitution, while those in favour of adopting the simultaneous polls highlighted how the proposed system would help in saving scarce resources and stimulate the country’s economy.
“Those who opposed simultaneous elections raised apprehensions that its adoption could violate the basic structure of the Constitution, be anti-democratic and anti-federal, marginalise regional parties, encourage the dominance of national parties, and result in a presidential form of government,” the panel report submitted to President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday.
Ram Nath Kovind Committee Meeting Report
As per the report, 62 parties approached the high-level committee on ‘one nation, one election’ out of which 47 responded — 32 in support of holding elections simultaneously, 15 against it.
Fifteen parties did not submit a response, according to the report.
Among the national parties, the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) opposed the proposal, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and National People’s Party supported it.
“Responses were received from 47 political parties. Barring 15 political parties, the remaining 32 political parties not only favoured the system of simultaneous elections, but also advocated its adoption for saving scarce resources, protecting social harmony, and stimulating economic development,” the report said.
‘Proposal undermines democracy, federalism’
The AAP, Congress and CPI(M) rejected the proposal saying it undermines democracy and the basic structure of the Constitution, said the report.
The BSP did not explicitly oppose it, but highlighted concerns regarding the large territorial extent and population of the country, which could make implementation challenging, said the report.
In its submission, Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party said if simultaneous elections are implemented, state-level parties will not be able to compete with national parties in electoral strategy and expenditure leading to increased discord between these two sets of parties.
Regional parties in favour/opposition
Among state parties, AIUDF, Trinamool Congress, AIMIM, CPI, DMK, Naga People’s Front, and Samajwadi Party opposed the proposal to hold simultaneous elections.
The AIADMK, All Jharkhand Students Union, Apna Dal (Soney Lal), ASOM Gana Parishad, Biju Janata Dal, Lok Janshakti Party (R), Mizo National Front, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, Shiv Sena, Janata Dal (United), Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, Shiromani Akali Dal, and United People’s Party Liberal supported the proposal.
Among other parties, CPI(ML) Liberation, Social Democratic Party of India opposed it, while Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal, Bharatiya Samaj Party, Gorakha National Liberal Front, Hindustani Aavam Morcha, Rashtriya Lok Jan Shakti Party, Rashtrawadi Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) were among those who opposed.
No response from BRS, NC, YSRCP, others
Others including Bharat Rashtra Samiti, Indian Union Muslim League, Jammu And Kashmir National Conference, Janata Dal (Secular), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Kerala Congress (M), Nationalist Congress Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, Revolutionary Socialist Party, Sikkim Democratic Front, Telugu Desam Party, and YSR Congress Party did not respond.
2019 all-party meeting
The report also said that at an all-party meeting in 2019, which was attended by 19 political parties to discuss critical reforms in governance, simultaneous elections was among the issues discussed and 16 of them favoured it.
Only three parties opposed the idea, it said.
According to the report, in the 2019 meeting the parties that had supported the idea are: the BJP, Nationalist Congress Party, Janata Dal (United), YSR Congress, Biju Janata Dal, Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Lok Janshakti Party, Shiromani Akali Dal, Apna Dal, All Jharkhand Students Union, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, National Democratic Progressive Party, National People’s Party, People’s Democratic Party, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, and Republican Party of India supported the proposal.
The CPI(M), AIMIM and the RSP were the only parties that had opposed it.
What is One Nation One Election?
The ‘One Nation, One Election’ is a system of holding simultaneous state and national elections in the country, proposed by the BJP-led central government. It envisages asynchronous elections across the country in order to save precious state resources which would help drive the nation’s economy forward.
Kovind Panel on Simultaneous Polls
In September last year, the Narendra Modi government constituted a high-level committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind to examine the issue of ‘One Nation, One Election’ and make recommendations for holding simultaneous elections in the country.
(With PTI inputs)
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