Thu Sep 19 04:19:38 UTC 2024: ## India Moves Closer to “One Nation One Election”: Cabinet Approves Proposal, Sparks Opposition Backlash
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the proposal for “One Nation One Election,” a major step towards holding simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies. This move, based on the recommendations of a high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, aims to reduce the frequency of elections and streamline the electoral process.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the implementation will happen in two phases, emphasizing the proposal’s popularity among a large number of parties and individuals, particularly the youth. The government plans to introduce a bill in the upcoming winter session of Parliament.
The “One Nation One Election” concept, a key promise in the BJP’s Lok Sabha manifesto, has faced strong opposition from several parties, including the Congress, AAP, and Shiv Sena (UBT). They argue that it would benefit the ruling party at the center and undermine democratic principles.
However, the proposal has received support from the NDA’s allies like JD(U) and Chirag Paswan’s party.
The government plans to create a common electoral roll for all elections and establish an implementation group to oversee the execution of the Kovind panel’s recommendations.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the decision as a landmark electoral reform, claiming it would strengthen democracy and facilitate faster economic growth by minimizing resource allocation disruptions caused by frequent elections.
The Kovind panel’s report suggests two phases of implementation. The first phase, which does not require state approval for constitutional amendments, involves synchronizing Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. The second phase, requiring ratification from at least half of the states, will align municipal and panchayat elections with the general elections.
The panel has proposed 18 constitutional amendments to make “One Nation One Election” a reality.
While the government has stressed the need for simultaneous polls, arguing that frequent elections hinder progress, the opposition remains vehemently opposed. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge declared that the concept is undemocratic, while the AAP dismissed it as a “jumla” (empty promise) and called for the BJP to demonstrate its competence by holding Delhi polls simultaneously with Maharashtra and Jharkhand.
The proposed implementation of “One Nation One Election” has sparked a major political debate, setting the stage for a potential showdown in the upcoming parliamentary session.
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