Many political parties oppose idea of simultaneous polls

Many political parties including DMK, CPI, Trinamool Congress and others have opposed the idea of ‘One nation one poll’ while many others who have supported have words of caution.

Indian Parliament (File Photo | Reuters)

NEW DELHI: Many political parties including DMK, CPI, Trinamool Congress and others have opposed the idea of ‘One nation one poll’ while many others who have supported have words of caution saying it would be difficult to hold simultaneous polls in the year 2019 as some serious issues needed to be settled first.

Law Commission continued its consultations for the second day on Sunday with political parties on the feasibility of holding simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. Many parties including BJP and Congress have not attended the consultation meeting so far.

Samajwadi Party has supported the idea of one nation one election. During its meeting with the Law Commission, the party said, the process of simultaneous elections should be started from 2019. Talking to reporters after the meeting Party General Secretary Ram Gopal Yadav said, in case public representative switch sides or indulge in horse-trading action should be taken.

READ | Samajwadi Party, TRS favour of one nation, one election

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is also in favour of the idea. K Chandrashekhar Rao said in a letter to the Law panel, “TRS is strongly in favour of holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the state Legislative Assemblies.”

DMK has opposed the proposal of ‘One India One Elections’ saying that the present proposal will decimate the federal structure. DMK working president MK Stalin on Sunday rejected the idea saying, “it is 'useless' to explore the possibility, since it had already been completely rejected in a previous attempt during the previous NDA government.” Stalin made his opposition to the idea clear in a letter to Justice BS Chauhan, chairman of the Law Commission of India.

ALSO READ | Simultaneous polls unwarranted, practically not possible: DMK

Shiromani Akali Dal supported the concept while AIADMK said, it is not against One Nation One Election but certain practical and serious issues need to be settled first.

On the other hand, Trinamool Congress, CPI, AIUDF and Goa Forward Party opposed the concept.

NDA ally JD (U) has also supported the idea, however, the party asserted that it would be a difficult exercise. senior JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said, “We are in the favour of simultaneous elections, but we don't think it will be easy to conduct them. However, we cannot oppose it as it is a step towards less expensive elections, curbing black money and better governance.”

Sources said the BJP has sought more time from the Commission to present its views while the Congress has said that it will consult other opposition parties on the issue before deciding its course of action.

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Last week, the CPI (M) had told the Law Commission that holding Lok Sabha and Assembly polls together are inherently anti-democratic and negate the principles of federalism.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has on several occasions stressed the need to hold simultaneous polls to help save time and money and allow political parties to pay more attention to governance.

One Nation One Poll

Political parties in favour: BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal, SP, JD (U), TRS

Political parties opposed to the idea: DMK, Trinamool Congress, CPI, AIUDF, Goa Forward Party