EXCLUSIVE: Amit Shah Reiterates BJP's 'One Nation, One Election' Pledge, Says 'Nation Had Simultaneous Polls Till 1960s'

Amit Shah blamed Congress for the mismatch in Lok Sabha and Assembly polls saying that the nation had simultaneous polls till 1960s.

File photo of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Source : PTI

Amit Shah on Tuesday called for 'One Nation, One Election' saying that the people should give the mandate once in five years and political parties should also approach the people once in five years.

"The people should give the mandate once in 5 years and the political parties should go to the people once in 5 years and then whoever gets the mandate should rule for five years. What's the objection to this?" Shah said in an exclusive interview to ABP News.

Shah blamed Congress for the mismatch in Lok Sabha and Assembly polls saying that the nation had simultaneous polls till 1960s.

"This has been going on till the 1960s. When Indira Gandhi collapsed the opposition government, then the timetable was mismatched. There is a need to hold it together through law," Shah said. 

"I believe that we have taken this in our poll manifesto after much thought. There should be one nation, one election and there should be common voter list," he added.

He further added that when the law will be framed, there will be discussions in the parliament regarding the details. 
  
Speaking on the controversy over EVM machines, Shah attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi saying until he is there in politics, he would keep raising the issue. He added that Rahul Gandhi doesn't have a sense of self-reflection.

"Until Rahul Gandhi is there in politics, he would keep raising the issue. He doesn't have a sense of self-reflection. He doesn't think why he loses. He will blame on EVM and his friends. If he will search for the reason behind his loss, he will feel hurt," Shah said.
 
Earlier in March, a committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind submitted a report on the government's 'One Nation, One Election' push proposing simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.

The panel, set up in September, consulted 39 political parties, economists, and the Election Commission of India before arriving at the suggestions.