'One Nation One Corruption': Kejriwal, Congress Slam BJP Over Proposal For Simultaneous Polls
Congress and Aam Aadmi Party called out the BJP-led government's plan for "One Nation, One Election," claiming it aims to eliminate regional parties and consolidate national parties' power
INDIA bloc allies Congress and Aam Aadmi Party trained guns on Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre over One Nation One Election saying the saffron party wants to ease out all the state parties. A new political row erupted on Wednesday after the Union Cabinet approved the proposal for simultaneous elections across the country, aligning both Lok Sabha and Assemblies.
Slamming the BJP government, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the Congress party does not believe in the simultaneous election system and that practically it is not possible.
".They want to ease out all the state parties. They feel that only national parties should survive. In the federal structure, you cannot do that. They are taking a big risk. The Congress party completely opposes," he told ANI.
Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal also trained guns on BJP saying they want to conduct parallel polls so that they can go on trips for the rest four and a half years.
"Politicians come under control only during elections, fulfil all demands. Now these BJP leaders have decided to conduct only one election in the country," he said.
"They will conduct all the elections together and then enjoy and go on trips for the rest of four and a half years. They will go to Paris, London, America, Singapore and after four and a half years, they will come back and reduce you ga cylinder prices by Rs 200 and ask for your vote," in an apparent jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent foreign trips.
"Don't let them implement one nation one election, I say election should be held every month so that these politicians remain under control, work for the public," he added.
AAP leader Sanjay Singh also cornered the BJP saying it's a party of "one nation one corruption". On the argument that the proposed 'One Nation One Election' will save money spent on conducting various elections, the AAP leaders asked whom are they fooling.
"A false narrative has been circulating since yesterday that a lot of money is spent on elections. Who are they fooling? The Modi government has waived ₹3,53,000 crores in debts for 48 companies, while the entire country's election costs merely ₹4,000 crores. The amount embezzled by Nirav Modi could fund national elections for 25 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to establish authoritarian rule in the country. If there are no elections, there will be no pressure, and they will do as they please," he said.