Owaisi slams ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, calls it a blow to federalism
Hyderabad: Approval by the Union Cabinet for simultaneous elections across India has sparked significant debate, with Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi strongly criticizing the move. His stance comes in response to the government’s decision to implement ‘One Nation, One Election,’ which aims to hold simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies in a phased manner.
Owaisi argues that the proposal undermines the country’s federal structure and weakens democratic principles, taking to X (formerly twitter) Hyderabad MP and AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi said, “I have consistently opposed ‘One Nation One Elections’ because it is a solution in search of a problem. It destroys federalism and compromises democracy, which are part of the basic structure of the constitution.”
I have consistently opposed #OneNationOneElections because it is a solution in search of a problem. It destroys federalism and compromises democracy, which are part of the basic structure of the constitution.
Multiple elections aren’t a problem for anyone except Modi & Shah.…
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) September 18, 2024
He further added, “Multiple elections aren’t a problem for anyone except Modi and Shah. Just because they have a compulsive need to campaign in even municipal and local body elections does not mean that we need simultaneous polls. Frequent and periodic elections improve democratic accountability(sic).”
Union cabinet approved simultaneous elections
During the Union cabinet decisions briefing Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the cabinet had accepted the recommendation of the High level committee on Simultaneous elections. He further stated that “Elections have been held simultaneously in 1951 and 1967. Even the 170th report of the law commission had recommended ‘One election’ to Lok Sabha and all legislative assemblies in five years.”
The High level committee chaired by former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind extensively consulted a broad spectrum of stakeholders including political parties and experts. “It will be implemented in two phases, in the first phase lok sabha and assemblies election will be held simultaneously and in second phases local bodies election including urban and rural bodies will be held simultaneously within 100 days of general elections,” briefed Vaishnaw.
