Prakash Ambedkar Slams BJP, Says 'One Nation, One Election' Bill Will End Federalism In India

Prakash Ambedkar, VBA president, believes that the 'One Nation, One Election' Bill will lead to the end of political parties and the federal structure in India.

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) president Prakash Ambedkar on Tuesday said the passage of the 'One Nation, One Election' Bill as an act would spell the end of political parties. He said, "The future of this country is at stake if this bill is passed. The end of the political parties will begin... The federal structure has already ended. The states are financially dependent on the centre because of the GST... The economy has withered..."

Prakash Ambedkar, who is the grandson of the Architect of the Constitution BR Ambedkar, attacked the BJP-led Centre, saying, "It is the beginning of dictatorship... Congress has to take a stand and it should not be a wavering stand... If Amit Shah has praised Babasaheb, then the BJP should release the whole tape... In what has come into the public domain, his [Amit Shah's] voice has a taunting tone. The hatred [towards BR Ambedkar] is exhibited..."

The 'One Nation, One Election' Bill has caused quite a stir in the country's political circles, with many non-NDA parties alleging that a law for simultaneous elections in the nation would finish the relevance of regional political outfits. 

The Bill cleared a vote for introduction in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, with 269 votes in its favour. As many as 198 MPs were against its introduction. Immediately after it was introduced, the government recommended it be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for deliberations and changes.