Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has slammed the Centre's ‘One Nation, One Election’ pitch and dubbed it an attack on the Indian union and all its states.
“INDIA, that is Bharat, is a Union of States. The idea of ‘one nation, one election’ is an attack on the 🇮🇳 Union and all its States,” Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
This comes amid the row over the push, and after Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury declined to be a part of the panel formed to deliberate on the issue. The Congress on Sunday said the timing of the high-level committee on 'One nation, One election' was questionable and its terms of reference have already determined its recommendations.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the composition of the committee is also a total giveaway away and that is why Chowdhury has refused to be a part of it. "The High-level Committee on what is called “One Nation One Election” is a ritualistic exercise, the timing of which is highly suspect. Its terms of reference have already determined its recommendations," he said on X, formerly Twitter.
"The composition of the Committee is also a total give-away and the Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha @adhirrcinc last night very rightly refused to be part of it," he added.
Opposition Allege Ploy To Hold Early Polls
The Centre on Friday said that it had formed a panel, to be led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, to examine the idea of 'one nation, one election'. However, the move soon came under attack by the Opposition who alleged this to be the BJP'ploy to hold early Lok Sabha polls and divert the public's attention from core issues.
The committee will examine and recommend specific amendments to the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act and any other laws and rules which would require amendments if simultaneous elections were to be held. Apart from these, the panel wpuld also examine and recommend, if the amendments to the Constitution would require ratification by the states, PTI reported. The committee will also analyse and recommend solutions in scenarios such as hung House, adoption of no-confidence motion, or defection or any such other event in case of simultaneous elections.
Reacting to the allegations, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said, "Right now, just a committee has been formed. The matter will be discussed after the committee submits its report. The agenda of the Parliament's special session will be finalized in two to four days and then we will let everyone know... Till 1967, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha elections were held simultaneously."