Wed Sep 18 16:18:28 UTC 2024: ## Mamata Banerjee Slams ‘One Nation One Election’ Proposal as Unconstitutional

**Kolkata, India** – The proposed “One Nation One Election” plan, approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday, has faced immediate backlash from opposition leaders, with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee leading the charge.

Banerjee, a vocal critic of the proposal, has publicly questioned the constitutionality of the idea, arguing it undermines India’s federal structure. In a letter to the One Nation One Election panel secretary earlier this year, she wrote: “I disagree with your formulation and proposal… While I understand the meaning of ‘One Nation’ in a historical-political-cultural sense, I do not understand the exact Constitutional and structural implications of the term in the present case. Does the Constitution follow the concept of One Nation, One Government?”

The Trinamool Congress leader further criticized the plan as an attempt to implement a presidential form of government, stating that India’s system is based on a Union government and various state governments. She also highlighted the practical challenges of maintaining simultaneous elections, particularly in cases of premature dissolution of the Lok Sabha or state Assemblies.

“If the framers of the Constitution did not mention the concept of One Nation, One Government, how have you arrived at the concept of One Nation, One Election?” Banerjee questioned in her letter.

The proposal, based on a report by a panel headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, aims to synchronize national and state elections, a move touted as a potential cost-saving measure and a way to reduce disruptions to government operations. However, critics like Banerjee argue that the plan is politically motivated and could lead to a weakening of the federal structure.

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