Former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is also a member of the One Nation One Election panel, on Monday (October 2) said that all political parties will be consulted before a decision is taken on the matter while ruling out any “urgency in implementing” the proposal of simultaneous polls.
The Centre had notified an eight-member panel on September 2, headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind to examine and make recommendations at the earliest on the issue of holding simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha, state assemblies, municipalities and panchayats.
“Only a preliminary meeting has been held. It was an introductory meeting. I do not think there is any urgency in implementing it, as some people are saying, because consultations are to be held with national parties, regional parties, recognised parties ….Many people have to be called (for consultation),” Azad said while speaking to the reporters here.
He said that everyone’s opinion will be sought and it would be wrong to think that the committee will take a decision on its own.
On the Women’s Reservation Bill, the former J-K chief minister and chairman of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) said the bill has come 30 years late but lauded the political parties for "giving up rigidity" to pass the legislation in both houses of the parliament.
“It has come late. It should have come 15 to 20 years earlier… It should have come even 30 years earlier. In earlier attempts like during the UPA, some of the constituent parties were against it. There was no unanimity. Now at least there is unanimity and it was passed in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The government and all the parties, which did not stick to their rigidity and supported the bill this time, deserve to be congratulated for it,” he added.
Azad on delay in Assembly polls in J-K
He said that the elections are the essence of democracy and have to be held.
“It is unthinkable that there will be no elections. If there are no elections, there will be no democracy. And the elections are not only due but overdue, especially the assembly elections. Parliament elections are held on time, there has been no difficulty but it has been a long time since assembly polls were held,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)
