Kerala Assembly Unanimously Passes Resolution Against 'One Nation, One Election' Proposal

Kerala Minister MB Rajesh stated that the proposal could result in the premature dissolution of state assemblies and local governments which would undermine their autonomy.

Rajesh labeled the initiative as an attempt to centralise power, claiming it aligns with the agenda of the RSS and BJP.

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The Kerala Assembly unanimously passed a resolution opposing the central government’s approval of the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal recommended by the Ramnath Kovind committee on Thursday. The resolution, deemed the proposal "undemocratic" and "unconstitutional," was introduced by Parliamentary Affairs Minister M.B. Rajesh on behalf of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Rajesh argued that implementing simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies would weaken the federal structure of India and compromise the country's diverse parliamentary democracy, as reported by PTI. He stated that the proposal could result in the premature dissolution of state assemblies and local governments, which would undermine their autonomy.

Kerala Legislative Assembly passed a resolution urging the central government to withdraw its proposed 'One Nation, One Election' reform, describing it as undemocratic and detrimental to the nation's federal structure.

— ANI (@ANI) October 10, 2024

 

The minister further criticised the high-level committee's view of elections as a financial burden suggesting that there are simpler ways to reduce costs without compromising the democratic process. Rajesh labeled the initiative as an attempt to centralize power, claiming it aligns with the agenda of the RSS and BJP.

He emphasized that the move threatens the democratic rights of the people and undermines the states' authority to conduct elections. The resolution was widely supported by members across political lines, including the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), whose amendments were incorporated before the resolution was passed unanimously by the House.

The 'One Nation, One Election' is part of BJP's poll manifesto ahead of Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Though the party works to implement the policy, many political parties oppose the move.

Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet approved the recommendations of the committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind and announced the formation of an implementation group to carry out the suggested measures on September 18.