One Nation, One Election: Parties Divided on Constitutional Changes

The debate over the “One Nation, One Election” proposal has sparked mixed reactions among political parties, with 15 parties opposing the idea, including four national parties, while 32 parties express their support. Here’s a breakdown of the diverse opinions presented to the panel led by Ram Nath Kovind:

Ram Nath Kovind, the chairman of the high-level committee on One Nation, One Election, presents the report to President Droupadi Murmu, in New Delhi on Thursday.

Supporting Parties:

• The BJP and its ally, the National People’s Party (NPP), constitute the only national parties backing simultaneous elections.
• Other supporting parties include the AIADMK, JD(U), Biju Janata Dal, Shiv Sena, Akali Dal, and several regional parties.

Opposing Parties:

• The Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and CPI(M) are among the national parties opposing simultaneous elections.
• Additionally, parties like Trinamool Congress, AIMIM, CPI, DMK, and Samajwadi Party have expressed their opposition to the proposal.

Key Points Raised:

• The Congress highlights concerns about the proposal’s impact on the Constitution’s basic structure and federalism.
• The BSP emphasizes the need to strengthen existing electoral systems before implementing significant changes.
• The CPI(M) criticizes the proposal as anti-democratic and detrimental to parliamentary democracy.
• Trinamool Congress questions the constitutional implications and structural impact of One Nation, One Election.
• AIMIM underscores the importance of respecting voters’ choices and preserving India’s electoral democracy.

All-Party Meeting:

• An all-party meeting convened in Delhi saw 16 out of 19 parties favoring simultaneous elections, including ruling parties in several states.
• The BJP’s allies, JD(U), Akali Dal, and Lok Janshakti Party, were among the supporters, while the CPI(M) and AIMIM opposed the proposal.

The debate on One Nation, One Election reflects the diversity of opinions among political parties, raising crucial questions about constitutional changes and electoral democracy in India.