‘One nation, one poll’ unconstitutional: Mamata

‘One nation, one poll’ unconstitutional: Mamata
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‘One nation, one poll’ has been a widely debated topic in Indian politics. The concept refers to holding simultaneous elections for both the Lok Sabha (the lower house of parliament) and the state legislative assemblies. The idea behind this proposal is to streamline the election process and reduce the massive expenditure involved in conducting multiple elections. However, Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, has voiced her dissent against this idea, claiming that it is unconstitutional. She argues that the concept goes against the principles of federalism and violates the rights of states. According to Mamata Banerjee, India is a diverse country with several regional and cultural differences, and conducting simultaneous elections would undermine the uniqueness of each state. She believes that elections should be held separately, allowing each state to focus on its specific issues and concerns. Mamata Banerjee’s opposition to ‘One nation, one poll’ is not new. She has been a vocal critic of the proposal since its inception. In 2019, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government first raised the idea, Mamata Banerjee strongly condemned it, stating that it was a tactic to undermine regional parties and centralize power in the hands of the ruling party. She argued that such a move would heavily favor national parties like the BJP and suppress the voices of regional parties representing the interests of their respective states. Over the years, Mamata Banerjee has remained firm in her stance against ‘One nation, one poll’, consistently stating that it is against the democratic principles of our country. She believes that simultaneous elections would lead to a domination of national parties over regional parties and hinder regional aspirations. While the idea of ‘One nation, one poll’ has found support among some political leaders who see it as a way to reduce the cost and time consumed by elections, Mamata Banerjee’s opposition continues to remain strong. As the Chief Minister of West Bengal, a state known for its strong regional identity, she has maintained that the idea is undemocratic and denies the rights of states to express their own choices. Her statements on the topic have sparked further discussions and debates, keeping the issue of ‘One nation, one poll’ in the spotlight. It remains to be seen how this contentious issue will be resolved in the larger political discourse of the country.

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TIS Staff

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