NEW DELHI: The Law Commission’s ‘working draft’ report, which gives a green signal to simultaneous polls has stirred the hornet’s nest. Opposition parties have termed the idea of simultaneous polls, advocated on multiple occasions by the Prime Minister himself, a “fantasy”.
Congress spokesperson MV Rajeev Gowda told The New Indian Express that ‘Narendra Modi’s desire’ to have simultaneous polls was nothing but a ‘distraction created by BJP to beat anti-incumbency.’
He added, “BJP, in coalition with various other parties, is in power in 19-20 states and is facing huge incumbency in them for not doing anything. Youth, middle-class, farmers, minorities and Dalits are feeling threatened. So Modi wants to divert attention by turning the referendum on himself because he still enjoys some popularity.”
He added that holding simultaneous polls would require several constitutional amendments, which will not be affected due to lack of political consensus. Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala too said it was only the BJP which is pushing the idea of simultaneous polls.
“This is nothing but an affront to democracy per se but the Modi government will not be able to have its way.”
Similarly, CPI leader D Raja too criticised the idea of ‘simultaneous polls’ and said this was part of BJP’s obsession with “one nation, one culture” theory.
Calling the idea “unrealistic” and “not-feasible”, Raja said, “Simultaneous polls are not feasible as the central government cannot force all state governments to go for polls during Lok Sabha elections. Even if the Law commission recommends simultaneous polls, it won’t become a reality because there cannot be any political consensus on this.”
However, BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi described the law commission’s ‘working draft report’ a “great idea”.
She said, “Elections should happen simultaneously for effective governance. Both Election Commission and Law commission should suggest methodologies for holding simultaneous polls and something should work out.”
As reported first by The New Indian Express on April 11, a “working draft” report of the law commission has recommended holding simultaneous elections in two phases, beginning from 2019.