“Impossible”: Kharge On PM Modi’s One Nation One Election Remarks

Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on planning to implement the One Nation One Election, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called it impossible without a bipartisan consensus in the Parliament.

“What PM Modi has said, he will not do it, because when it comes in the parliament, he has to take everybody into confidence, then only this will happen. This is impossible; ‘One Nation One Election’ is impossible,” the Congress leader said.

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Kharge stated that a reform of such big scale cannot be imposed unilaterally and demands a broad consensus.

Earlier today, during his speech in Gujarat’s Kevadia on the occasion of the National Unity Day, PM Modi said that the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was working towards One Nation One Election. He stated that the scheme will “strengthen India’s democracy, give the optimum outcome of India’s resources, and the country will gain new momentum in achieving the dream of a developed India.”

The BJP leader also added that the country was moving towards “One Nation One Civil Code that is a Secular Civil Code.”

Earlier as well, Kharge expressed his protest against the policy, stating that it cannot work in a democracy and flagging the One Nation One Election as “unconstitutional.”

The opposition has been vocal with its criticism against holding simultaneous elections as it will destroy “federalism and democracy” and is an “impractical” idea. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader MK Stalin called the plan an “impractical” idea that ignores the complexities of India’s diverse electoral system and undermines federalism.

Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi stated that the policy would destroy federalism and compromise democracy.

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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the policy, calling it a veiled effort by the BJP to centralise power and steer the country towards a presidential system, undermining democracy that thrives on diversity in the country.

The Union Cabinet cleared the central government’s One Nation One Election proposal submitted by a high-level committee headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind. As per the scheme, the Lok Sabha and assembly polls will be held simultaneously, followed by urban body and panchayat elections within 100 days.