One Nation, One Election gets Cabinet nod; Opposition parties call it "impractical"

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the government's 'One Nation, One Election' proposal which proposes simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, with urban body and panchayat polls to be held within 100 days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Union Cabinet's decision to approve the 'One Nation, One Election' and said that the decision is a step towards making India's democracy even more vibrant and participative.

"The Cabinet has accepted the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections. I compliment our former President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji for spearheading this effort and consulting a wide range of stakeholders. This is an important step towards making our democracy even more vibrant and participative," PM Modi posted on X.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the Union Cabinet's decision concerning 'One Nation, One Election', saying it reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong will to bolster democracy "through clean elections and accelerate growth through more productive allocation of resources".

"Today, in this direction, Bharat takes a giant stride towards landmark electoral reforms with the Union Cabinet accepting the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on One Nation, One Election," Amit Shah said on X.

"This reflects Modi Ji's iron will to bolster our democracy through clean and financially efficient elections and accelerate economic growth through more productive allocation of resources," he added.

Former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said that if elections are held in the entire country together, then the next five years can be dedicated to development works.

"If elections are held in the entire country together, then the next five years can be dedicated to development works... There is nothing wrong with the idea of this... Model Code of Conduct also causes obstruction to work somewhere or the other... One nation, one election is good from the point of view of funding as well," Mahajan said.

Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani said that in the coming days, the election will be held on the same day for Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

"This is a very good decision taken by the cabinet...In the coming days, the election will be held on the same day for Lok Sabha and Assembly elections," Rupani said.

Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske said that it is a very good decision taken by the Narendra Modi government.

"Shiv Sena welcomes this decision in Maharashtra and we thank PM Narendra Modi. One nation one election will save money, time, and power that goes into conducting elections every now and then. Development will speed up which is often obstructed by the Model Code of Conduct," Mhaske said.

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the decision has been taken after a lot of discussions, adding that this is a proposal to implement it in 2029.

"A historic decision has been taken. The report that came on the recommendation of the former president has been accepted. One Nation, One Election is in the interest of the country, in the interest of the voters. Expenses will be less, voters will be comfortable... A lot of expenses will be saved. This decision has been taken after a lot of discussions. I hope other parties will support it. And this is a proposal to implement it in 2029," Prasad said.

BJP candidate Anij Vij called it a "good decision" and said that PM Modi has taken a great step.

"This is a very good decision and it would have been better if we had implemented it when the country got independence. A lot of time of our country is spent in elections... Modi ji has taken a very good decision," Vij said.

UP Deputy CM Brijesh Pathak said that all political parties and people of the country are welcoming it.

"People of the INDIA alliance are opposing it only for political reasons, the truth is that the people of the country will benefit from it... Everyone knows that after independence, all elections in the country were held simultaneously," Pathak said.

Assam CM Himanata Biswa Sarma congratulated the Central Government for moving forward towards One Nation, One Election.

"A committee was formed under the chairmanship of Ram Nath Kovind, the committee gave a report, the committee has just accepted the report, in the coming time the Central Government will take up the work for constitutional transition. I would like to congratulate the Central Government for moving forward towards One Nation, One Election. Especially due to frequent elections, public money and time are wasted, if this work is done through constitutional amendment, then I think that the public will be facilitated to a great extent," CM Sarma said.

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde welcomed the One Nation, One Election proposal approved by the Union Cabinet.

West Bengal BJP General Secretary and MLA Agnimitra Paul said, "Even our CM would complain of elections being held every other day because of which there would be hindrances in work and proceedings of the government. When all elections- Lok Sabha as well as Vidhan Sabha are held simultaneously, 5 years of governance will be spent on actually working. So much of our money is spent on each election."

Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar said that the system, which is involved in elections all year round, will also be free if one nation one election is implemented

"The cabinet has passed the recommendation of the high-level committee. If the government proposes or seeks to pass any new provision or bill in the Parliament, we will support it... In 1951, there was one election for the entire country when Congress was in power... The system which is involved in elections all year round, will also be free if one nation one election is implemented," Majumdar said.

The opposition parties opposed the One Nation, One Election proposal and said that elections need to be held as and when required for democracy to survive.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that 'One Nation, One Election' cannot work in a democracy.

"We don't stand with this. One Nation, One Election cannot work in a democracy. Elections need to be held as and when required if we want our democracy to survive," he said.

Congress leader KC Venugopal said that the proposal is not practical.

"It is not practical in this country. They want to divert attention from present issues," he said.

JMM MP Mahua Maji said that the BJP wants to be the only party in the country.

"If one nation one election is implemented, what will happen to regional parties and independent candidates? The agenda for local, assembly, and national elections is different. Voters look at different aspects in each case before deciding who to vote for... President's rule will have to be imposed in case an assembly fails to complete its term... Constitutional amendments will be needed to incorporate the provisions of the bill," Maji said.

Congress MP Rajeev Shukla said that One nation, One Election does not seem practical.

"If an assembly completes its turn, then it's possible to have one nation one election, but if an assembly does not complete its term, then what will happen? The expenditure will be the same... What purpose will be achieved? How will this be implemented? A constitutional amendment is needed to implement it," Shukla said.

On One Nation, One Election, Karnataka former CM Veerappa Moily says, "This is intended to promote the image of PM Modi not in the interests of the country...This is not the opinion of the country, this is not the opinion of the cross-section of the people, including the executive, judiciary and activists. This emerged only after, suddenly PM Modi constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the former president Ram Nath Kovind. I don't think it is the result of any consensus or consultation..."

Former Chhattisgarh CM and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel said, "The Prime Minister while addressing the nation from the Red Fort had said that there should be One Nation, One Election. Not even 24 hours have passed and the Election Commission has announced elections for two states... Arun Sao says that elections will be held in Chhattisgarh on the lines of One Nation, One Election. Now news is coming from government sources that it is not possible to conduct municipal and panchayat elections together. They themselves say and are unable to do it... If the government falls in any state, will the elections be held for two and a half years or for five years?"

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi lashed out at the Centre over 'One Nation One Election' and said that they can't do things based on their convenience and the entire game plan of Prime Minister Modi is to finish the regional parties.

"We have given it in writing to the law commission and I have been before the committee formed (for One Nation One Election) and opposed this One Nation One Election. I think that this is a solution in search of a problem. They plan that national parties should remain and all regional parties should be finished. If there are national elections, then there will be national issues and in assembly elections, there will be regional issues. Narendra Modi wants regional issues to end," he said.

CPI leader D Raja said that many experts have pointed out that under the current Constitution, this cannot be taken forward.

"One Nation, One Election is impractical and unrealistic. Many experts have pointed out that under the current Constitution, this cannot be taken forward. When Parliament meets we must get details on this. If it is pushed, then we need to study the consequences," D Raja said.

BRS leader KT Rama Rao said, "We will have to see how they go forward with this."

Moreover, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Chief Mayawati supported the 'One Nation One Election' system after the Union Cabinet accepted the recommendations put forth by the high-level committee, chaired by former President of India Ram Nath Kovind.

In a post on X, Mayawati said, "Our party's stand on the approval given today by the Union Cabinet to the proposal to hold simultaneous elections of Lok Sabha, Assembly and local bodies in the country under the system of 'One Country, One Election' is positive, but its objective must be in the national and public interest."

Samajwadi Party leader Ravidas Malhotra suggested the BJP call an all-party meeting if the government wanted implement 'One Nation, One Election'.

"If BJP wants to implement 'One Nation, One Election', then it should call an all-party meeting on national presidents of all opposition parties and leaders of different political parties in Lok Sabha," Malhotra said.

The High-level Committee on Simultaneous Elections, constituted under the chairmanship of former President Ram Nath Kovind, submitted its report to President Droupadi Murmu earlier this year.

The government said that the report, comprising 18,626 pages, is an outcome of extensive consultations with stakeholders, experts and research work of 191 days, since its constitution on September 2, 2023. (ANI)