M.K. Stalin calls on BJP allies to oppose ONOE

Lashing out at the BJP government at the Centre for attempting to thrust in a unitary form of governance through the 'one nation, one election' initiative, Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday, 18 January, appealed to BJP allies and all democratic forces to oppose the move and save the country and the Constitution.

The idea of holding simultaneous election, he said, was only the BJP-led government's agenda to create a situation for enforcing one election for the entire country.

"We should oppose one nation, one election plan of the BJP because it wants to bring one party rule in the country. The BJP government wants one religion, one language, one culture and uniform dress code, besides one cuisine. That's why it wants to thrust simultaneous polls on the nation," Stalin said addressing the third state conference of the DMK legal wing in Chennao.

The BJP wanted to destroy the states in order to establish one government at the Centre, he said. "This is the BJP’s long-term plans. It wants to thrust simultaneous polls intending to create a situation for a single poll for the entire nation. This will pave the way for unitary rule in the country."

Going a step further, he said, he would suggest that the move would lead to conferring greater powers on a single individual, which is not good even for the BJP party. "This amendment would be useful to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi a dictator but it does not augur well for democracy," the chief minister, who is also the DMK president, said.

He cautioned the BJP's allies not to fall prey to the saffron party's designs but oppose the amendment. Though they were free to be in alliance with the BJP, the allies should not support any legislation that is against the federal structure, he said. “Nor should any democratic party having faith in the people’s governance support the move," Stalin emphasised.

He claimed that his party, the DMK, has been championing a crusade to protect India and the Constitution and the party’s legal wing should continue the struggle and also ensure social justice prevails in the appointments to the judiciary.

On the tussle between the state government and governor R.N. Ravi, the chief minister accused the governor of indulging in efforts aimed at depicting the DMK government as "anti-Constitution".

"He (Ravi) walked out of the legislative assembly, citing that the national anthem was not played. I urge the Centre not to shift the governor because the more he speaks, the more the BJP will get exposed," Stalin said.

The DMK chief recalled the contribution of his party’s legal wing in safeguarding the interests of the state on issues like NEET, reservations and in upholding the party principles and standing by the party leaders in the political cases filed against the DMK since the Emergency period.

“We faced several challenges like restriction on constructing the Anna Arivalayam (party state headquarters). The legal wing smashed the barrier," Stalin said.

Similarly, the wing played a crucial role in other cases related to the dual colour (black and red) symbol of the DMK, the midnight arrest of late chief minister M. Karunanidhi, the attempt to tarnish the image of the party in arresting former union minister A. Raja and the legal wrangle for a spot on the Marina Beach to lay Karunanidhi to rest beside his mentor and former chief minister C.N. Annadurai’s memorial.

The conference passed a resolution condemning the governor for his actions in targeting the DMK and for ‘walking out’ of the assembly without reading out the speech prepared by the state government, and sought an apology from him for insulting Tamils.

Another resolution demanded the central government drop the move to implement its 'one nation, one election' plan.

A resolution was also passed thanking the chief minister for amending a law to provide harsher punishment to perpetrators of sexual offences against women and children.