According to sources, a new committee led by former president Ram Nath Kovind will examine the viability of India’s “one nation, one election” system, or nationwide simultaneous national and state elections, marking a significant advancement on the long-discussed proposal.
The action was taken a day after the Centre announced that the parliament would conduct a special session from September 18 to September 22 though it’s agenda is still unknown. It is rumored that a bill on “one nation, one election” will be introduced during the session but it hasn’t been verified by any government official.
‘One nation, one election’ refers to holding the Lok Sabha and state assembly polls simultaneously across the country, like it was in the first few rounds of elections in India. The BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have spoken on the issue on several occasions, and it was also a part of the party’s manifesto for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
According to experts, implementing the “one nation, one election” idea will require a constitutional amendment and backing from two-thirds of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members.
As per NDTV, D Raja, general secretary of the Communist Party of India, BJP has become anxious ever since the opposition came together under the banner of INDIA Bloc.
One nation, one election is not a new issue. It has been discussed for several years. Ever since the BJP came to power, it has been obsessed with one nation, one culture; one nation, one religion; one nation, one language; one nation, one tax; now one nation, one election; then one nation, one party; one nation, one leader. That is the obsession the BJP is suffering from,” Mr Raja said.
He further added, “Dr Ambedkar said parliament is supreme in our democracy, but the BJP is undermining parliament. Increasingly, our parliament is becoming redundant. But they called a special session. Nobody knows what the purpose is. Ever since the opposition parties came together under the INDIA banner, the BJP has been jittery and desperate. Mr Modi is jittery.”
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