Rahul Gandhi Opposes ‘One Nation, One Election’ Concept, Calls It an Attack on Indian Union
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticized the concept of “one nation, one election,” asserting that it undermines the Indian Union and all its constituent states. In a statement posted on X, Gandhi emphasized that India, referred to as Bharat, operates as a Union of States. He believes that the idea of simultaneous elections for the entire nation challenges the integrity of the Union and its individual states.
This critique from Gandhi comes in response to the government’s establishment of a high-level committee, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, to explore the feasibility of conducting synchronized elections. It’s worth noting that Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has declined to participate in the committee and expressed dissatisfaction over the exclusion of Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge. Instead, Ghulam Nabi Azad, the former leader of the opposition, was included in the committee in place of Kharge.
The government has officially notified the eight-member committee, tasking it with assessing and proposing prompt recommendations concerning the possibility of holding concurrent elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, municipalities, and panchayats. The committee’s responsibilities also encompass reviewing and suggesting specific amendments to the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act, and any other relevant laws and regulations requiring modifications to facilitate simultaneous elections. Additionally, the committee will consider whether these constitutional amendments necessitate state ratification. Furthermore, it will analyze and propose potential solutions for scenarios such as a hung House, the adoption of a no-confidence motion, defections, or other such events in the context of simultaneous elections.
