'Arrange Simultaneous Lok Sabha, UP Polls': Akhilesh Yadav Proposes 'Trial Run' Of 'One Nation, One Election'

Akhilesh Yadav suggests 'One Nation, One Election' trial in Uttar Pradesh alongside Lok Sabha. Response to Centre's committee on simultaneous polls.

File photo of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav

Source : Getty

Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday (September 2) offered a suggestion in response to the BJP-led central government's proposal of 'One Nation, One Election.' He proposed that before implementing this model nationwide, the government should conduct a trial by holding the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections concurrently with the Lok Sabha polls.

This suggestion comes following the formation of a committee by the Centre, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, to evaluate the feasibility of simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly elections.

In a Hindi post on 'X' on Saturday, Yadav stated, "Before embarking on any significant endeavour, it is customary to conduct a trial... We propose that, prior to implementing 'One Nation, One Election,' the BJP government should arrange simultaneous Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, which boasts the highest number of Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha seats."

हर बड़े काम को करने से पहले एक प्रयोग किया जाता है, इसी बात के आधार पर हम ये सलाह दे रहे हैं कि ‘एक देश-एक चुनाव’ करवाने से पहले भाजपा सरकार, इस बार लोक सभा के साथ-साथ देश के सबसे अधिक लोकसभा व विधानसभा सीटोंवाले राज्य उत्तर प्रदेश के लोकसभा-विधानसभा के चुनाव साथ कराके देख ले।…

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) September 2, 2023

Akhilesh Yadav further expressed confidence that the public is dissatisfied with the BJP and would ensure its defeat. He added, "This will not only test the Election Commission's competence and gauge public sentiment but also reveal how eager the people are to remove the BJP from power."

The last assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh took place in 2022, with the next scheduled for 2027. Notably, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also voiced support for the 'One Nation, One Election' model on Friday.

Speaking in Mumbai on Friday, Akhilesh Yadav remarked, "The proposal for One Nation, One Election was introduced with the deliberate intention of diverting attention from the I.N.D.I.A alliance meeting. Even during the last INDIA alliance meeting, they held a separate meeting. Who would be happier than us if One Nation, One Election were implemented? Will they implement it in UP? If they hold UP elections along with Lok Sabha elections, what could be better?" Hindustan Times quoted him as saying. 

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party General Secretary Swami Prasad Maurya slammed the BJP government's committee formation, calling it unconstitutional and an insidious attempt to undermine democracy and establish a 'monarchy.' Maurya made this statement on 'X.'

वन नेशन-वन इलेक्शन का निर्णय संविधान विरोधी है, लोकतंत्र की हत्या कर राजतन्त्र की स्थापना का सरकार का कुत्सित प्रयास है। सरकार के इस निर्णय की घोर भर्तस्ना करता हूँ। लोकतंत्र को बचाने के लिये सभी को एकजुट हो जाना चाहिए, गफलत में रहोगे तों संविधान बदल देंगे।

— Swami Prasad Maurya (@SwamiPMaurya) September 1, 2023

Another SP leader, IP Singh, stated in Hindi on 'X,' "Modi Ji's philosophy is that elections should not occur repeatedly as long as he is in power."

हिम्मत हो तो प्रधानमंत्री "एक देश एक चुनाव" का कानून ही न पास करायें चुनाव कराके दिखावें।

हम तो चाहते हैं कि उत्तर प्रदेश में तत्काल विधानसभा का चुनाव हो।

One Nation
One Election

क्या बाबा साहेब BR अंबेडकर का संविधान बीजेपी खारिज करने जा रही है?

कहते क्यों हो करके दिखाओ

— I.P. Singh (@IPSinghSp) September 1, 2023

Uttar Pradesh boasts 80 Lok Sabha seats and 403 assembly seats. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured 62 seats, while the SP only managed to secure five. In last year's state assembly election, the BJP won 255 seats, while the SP secured 111 seats.