One nation, one election: Cong calls it bid to divert, Mamata says attack on democracy

With the Union Cabinet approving bills to implement 'one nation, one election (ONOE)', the Congress on Thursday reiterated its opposition to the very idea of simultaneous polls and accused the government of trying to divert attention from "questions being raised on the electoral integrity of the democratic system".

The Union cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved bills to implement ONOE and the draft legislations are likely to be introduced in Parliament in the ongoing winter session, sources said.

"The Union Cabinet has cleared the Bill on One Nation One Election. The views of the Indian National Congress on this subject had been forcefully articulated by its President Mallikarjun Kharge ji on January 17, 2024. Nothing has happened since then to modify them," Congress MP and general-secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh wrote on X.

Kharge, in a letter to the secretary of the high-level committee on 'one nation, one election' on 17 January 2024, had said, "The Indian National Congress is strongly opposed to the very idea of 'One Nation, One Election'.

"For the sake of maintaining a thriving and a robust democracy, it is it imperative that the entire idea must be abandoned and the High Power Committee dissolved," he added.

Asked about the development, Congress' deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said in the past too, his party has raised many questions related to elections, electoral systems and electoral integrity.

"Now let this Bill come, let us see what they are trying to do. But we have said in the past also there are many concerns within the INDIA bloc about the impact on the federal character of our country through this Bill," Gogoi told PTI.

"PM Modi has not walked the talk, he talks of 'one nation, one election' and yet when it suits him...he does Haryana and Maharashtra elections separately. He does Gujarat elections separately. He does not even hold polls in states in one phase, he does it in five phases when it suits him," he said.

Gogoi said the people of India are very wise and understand there are much larger questions that need to be raised with respect to the entire electoral process such as the role of election commissioners and their appointment.

"I think they are only trying to divert from the questions that are being raised in people's mind with respect to the electoral integrity of our democratic system," he added.

Moving ahead with its 'one nation, one election' plan, the government had earlier in September accepted the recommendations of the high-level committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind to hold simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and local bodies in a phased manner.

Meanwhile, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the Union government over its decision to push for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, terming the move "unconstitutional and anti-federal."

In a post on X, Banerjee alleged that the proposed legislation was an attempt to centralise power and undermine India's democracy. "The Union Cabinet has bulldozed their way through with the unconstitutional and anti-federal One Nation, One Election Bill, ignoring every legitimate concern raised by experts and opposition leaders. This is not a carefully-considered reform; it's an authoritarian imposition designed to undermine India's democracy and federal structure," she wrote.

"Our MPs will oppose this draconian legislation tooth and nail in Parliament. Bengal will NEVER bow to Delhi's dictatorial whims. This fight is about saving India's democracy from the clutches of autocracy!" she added.

According to sources, the Cabinet's approval is limited to holding simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies, while elections for municipalities and panchayats have been excluded "for now", despite recommendations from the high-level committee to include them in a phased manner.

Opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, have repeatedly expressed concerns about the proposed reform, arguing that it could disrupt the federal structure of the country, undermine regional parties, and concentrate power at the Centre.

While the BJP has defended the idea as a measure to streamline governance and reduce election-related expenses, critics have questioned the feasibility and implications of holding simultaneous polls across a diverse and vast nation like India.

The Bill approved by the Union cabinet was "impractical" and an "anti-democratic" move that will erase regional voices and erode federalism, Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday.

Expressing his ire over the move, he said the cabinet has approved introducing the “draconian” ONOE Bill in Parliament.

“This impractical and anti-democratic move will erase regional voices, erode federalism, and disrupt governance. Rise up #INDIA!” Stalin said in a post on X. He further said “Let’s resist this attack on Indian Democracy with all our strength! #SayNoToONOE.”