One Nation, One Election: Prime Minister Narendra Modi To Form Panel

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an all-party meeting on Wednesday said that a committee will be formed to look into the various issues regarding the ‘One Nation, One Election’ plan.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told this to the media after the conclusion of the meeting which lasted for over three-and-a-half hours.

Singh said that five major agendas were discussed in the meeting, including the “One nation, One election” agenda.

He said that members of all the Opposition parties present at the meeting supported the idea barring the CPI and CPI-M.

“Only CPI and CPI-M expressed difference of opinion, saying how it could be implemented,” the Defence Minister said.

Over 40 parties were invited for the meeting in which 21 party chiefs participated while three expressed their inability to join the meeting citing some reasons, Singh added.

Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday extended his support to ‘One nation, One election’ idea proposed by the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.

“Frequent elections affect the pace of development and also damage the spirit of cooperative federalism. The BJD will fully support the idea of ‘One nation, One election’. There has to be a give-and-take attitude in the larger interest of the country,” said Patnaik.

He was speaking at an all-party meeting of party presidents conveyed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Parliament in New Delhi.

“Biju Janata Dal has been always supportive of whatever is being done in the interest of country and its people, and we would continue to do so in future as well,” said the BJD president.

As regards celebrating 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Chief Minister suggested considering including the uniquely Indian ideal of ‘non-violence’ or ‘ahimsa’, in the preamble of India’s Constitution.

This will ensure that future generations not just of Indians but peoples around the world are reminded of the profound truth of this principle, he added. Speaking on development of aspirational districts, he said the Centre should focus on macro issues like tele density, banking network and railway reach.

“Land acquisition laws should facilitate society’s welfare and country’s growth. We have to have a relook at the 2013 Act especially from the point of view of railway and road infrastructure development,” said the Chief Minister.

He also said there is a need to relook at the Forest Conservation Act as environment protection and economic growth has to complement each other.

However, Rajya Sabha MP and DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan said that ‘One nation, One Election’ will result in breaking the nation and is aimed at benefiting the BJP. “We oppose the BJP government’s proposal of ‘One nation, One election’. A State is an independent entity. The proposal will result in breaking the country. What will happen if a State government falls mid-way its term? Will the people have to wait for five years?” questioned Elangovan.

The Congress on Wednesday also slammed the BJP over simultaneous polls, saying it was a “diversionary tactics” to divert people’s attention from real issues and accused the ruling party of remaining inconsistent on the issue.

The Congress also said that party president Rahul Gandhi has written to the government over the party’s inability to participate in the meeting of presidents of all parties in Parliament.

Congress leader and MP Gaurav Gogoi told reporters at a press conference here that “when we talk of ‘One nation, One election,’ then we also want improvements in the election process.”

He said the Congress has raised questions over the election process as voting for two Rajya Sabha seats is being done on different dates.

He was referring to separate dates for elections to the two Rajya Sabha seats in Gujarat. The two seats were vacated in the State after BJP president Amit Shah and Smriti Irani were elected as MPs.

On the other hand, top Election Commission sources claimed that the idea is not feasible as of now.

A former Chief Election Commissioner also said the proposal has both "strong merits and serious demerits".

The top Election Commission source said that if the idea was feasible, then the poll panel would have held simultaneous assembly polls this year only along with the Lok Sabha polls.

The Election Commission had conducted the general elections in seven phases for the 542 Lok Sabha seats between April 11 to May 19. Results of the election were declared on May 23.

The source also contended that taking the case of the law and order situation during simultaneous polls can be very challenging as the number of central paramilitary forces is limited.

He also said that there are over 90 crore voters across the country and to prepare the logistics for simultaneous polls can be very tough, as of now.

The remarks of the top Election Commission sources comes after Modi held meeting with the Presidents of several political parties during the day in Parliament to discuss the idea of 'One nation, One election'. (IANS)

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