West Bengal Chief Minister Red Flags "One Nation, One Election" Plan
Trinamool Congress Chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee today (Thursday) rebuffed the “one nation, one election” concept terming it a “design to subvert the basic structure of the constitution.” She also suspects the intention behind the plan is to allow autocracy in a democratic garb to enter the national public arena. “I am against autocracy and, hence, am against your design,” the West Bengal chief minister wrote in her letter to Dr Niten Chandra, the Secretary of a high-level committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which sought suggestions for the implementation of the idea of “one nation, one election”
Ms Banerjee raised two points to underscore her issue with the “one nation, one election” policy. She disputed the constitutional and structural implications of the term ‘one nation’ and the timing of parliamentary and assembly elections. Noting the significant gap in the existing poll cycles, Mamata Banerjee said: “Different states have different election calendars now and those are also susceptible to changes due to political developments. States which are not expecting elections should not be forced to hold (them) for the sake of introduction of coevality only.”
In her letter noting her opposition against the plan, Ms Banerjee said: “You seem to be conveying some sort of a unilateral top-down “decision” already taken by the central government – to impose a structure that is against the spirit of a truly democratic and federal (nation)”.
She also warned that the instability of a government at the Centre should not destabilize state legislators in case the Lok Sabha or state Assembly underwent an untimely dissolution.
She further questioned the committee for failing to include chief ministers and said: “It is not clear how this basic issue of introduction of coevality is going to be addressed by your esteemed committee.”
Rejecting the “one nation, one election” plan, the Trinamool chief said that she doubts whether the committee analysed the demerits of the case seriously. “Under the circumstances, I cannot agree with the “one nation, one election” concept, as framed by you. We disagree with your formulation and proposal,” Ms Banerjee said.
There were simultaneous elections till 1967 and with some state assemblies dissolved before ending their term, the practice stopped. However, the panel of the plan has invited suggestions from the public and the public can send their opinions until January 15.
