‘One nation, one election’ move threat to federalism, says opposition

Opposition parties on Friday slammed the BJP-led government at Centre for forming a committee to explore the possibility of bringing a legislation for ‘one nation, one election’, saying the move was a threat to the country’s federal structure and a ploy aimed at diverting people’s attention from the pressing issues that the country was facing. However, at least two former allies of BJP—BJD and SAD — welcomed the move.
Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin said the move was against the interests of the country. “This is the time to end BJP’s attempts to impose uniformity in everything such as one nation-one tax, one nation-one language, one nation-one culture, one nation-one food, one nation-one education policy, one nation-one election, one nation-one party,” he said.
Without referring to the formation of the committee, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted on X, formerly Twitter: “No matter how many diversions and distractions the governing regime throws at the people, the citizens of India shall not be betrayed anymore.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said the move was a conspiracy to delay the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. “Fair elections is our slogan and not one nation, one election. Fair elections is not happening in the country. This plank of one nation, one election has been brought in to delay fair elections,” he said.

Telangana minister and senior BRS leader Talasani Srinivas Yadav demanded that the assembly elections in the state be held as per schedule. “BJP, with the fear of losing the Lok Sabha polls, is talking about simultaneous elections to divert the attention of people from contentious issues,” the minister said.
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi said the opposition governed states will not accept the move as it was against the Constitution and the spirit of federalism.
BJD MLA and former minister Badrinarayan Patra pointed out that Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik had extended his support to the idea of one-nation, one-poll at an all-party meeting in 2019. “If a legislation is enacted for one nation, one election, there is no problem. Some states which recently went to the polls may face loss, as those assemblies may also be dissolved,” he added.
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said his party had been consistently supporting this idea for at least five years now. “The idea of simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections will provide much needed stability, besides curbing wasteful expenditure. In the present system, the government machinery remains busy in election mode which affects smooth governance and development,” he said. SAD, which snapped its almost quarter-century-old partnership with BJP over the three contentious farm laws in September 2020, had supported the concept as an NDA constituent when the Law Commission held a two-day consultation with political parties on this issue in July 2018.
AIADMK chief Palaniswami, an ally of BJP, said simultaneous elections will “save the time, colossal cost and give longer uninterrupted period of governance to implement policies effectively” for any elected government, both at the central & state level.