‘One Nation, One Election’ To Undermine India’s Federal System: Pinarayi Vijayan
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has strongly criticised the central government’s proposal for ‘One Nation, One Election’, calling it a covert attempt to erode India’s federal structure. Speaking out against the initiative, Vijayan argued that the move is a veiled effort by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to centralise power and steer the country towards a presidential system, undermining the parliamentary democracy that thrives on diversity across states.
Vijayan asserted that India’s states have distinct political, social, and cultural contexts, which must be respected. “Conducting simultaneous elections across the country, ignoring the unique circumstances of each state, would lead to either forced central rule or a weakening of the people’s mandate. This will ultimately harm democracy,” he warned. He further stated that the recent approval of the Ram Nath Kovind Committee report on simultaneous elections by the Union Cabinet highlights the BJP’s intent to push this agenda, despite setbacks in past elections.
The Kerala CM urged democratic forces across the nation to unite and resist what he described as the “Sangh Parivar’s attempt to subvert the very idea of India.” According to him, this proposal would dismantle the essence of India’s parliamentary democracy by diminishing the role of state elections and increasing central control.
The Union Cabinet’s approval of the Ram Nath Kovind Committee report on ‘One Nation, One Election’ escalates efforts to undermine India’s federal system. This Sangh Parivar move to push Presidential rule and subvert constitutional values must be resisted. Democratic forces must…
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) September 18, 2024
Meanwhile, the Union government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has accepted the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind. According to a press release, the committee’s report, based on consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, recommends implementing simultaneous elections in two phases. The proposal aims to reduce the frequency of elections and create a common electoral roll for all elections, with detailed discussions set to follow across the country.
