Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge opposed the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal, saying it is impractical. He termed the approval of the one simultaneous elections proposal a poll gimmick ahead of elections, saying 'when elections come, they (Bharatiya Janata Party) say all these things. He added that the country's people will also not accept it.
His remarks came after the Union Cabinet approved a simultaneous elections proposal.
Earlier a panel headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind had submitted the report in March ahead of the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections.
'Internal pressure': Vaishnaw hits back at Kharge
On Kharge's remark calling 'One Nation One Election' as 'impractical', Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "The Opposition might start feeling internal pressure (about One Nation One Election) as more than 80 per cent of respondents who responded during consultant process have given their positive support, especially the youth, they are very much in favour of this."
Owaisi opposes 'One Nation, One Election'
AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi targeted the Modi government over simultaneous elections proposal, calling it a need of PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah only.
In a post on X, Asaduddin Owaisi said, "Just because they have a compulsive need to campaign in even municipal & local body elections does not mean that we need simultaneous polls. Frequent & periodic elections improve democratic accountability."
'Unrealistic': CPI on 'One Nation, One Election'
Reacting to the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal, CPI leader D Raja said "One Nation, One Election in impractical and unrealistic. Many experts have pointed out that under the current Constitution, this cannot be taken forward. When Parliament meets we must get details on this. If it is pushed, then we need to study the consequences."
SP seeks all-party meeting on ONOE
Samajwadi Party leader Ravidas Malhotra said, "If the BJP wants to implement 'One Nation, One Election', then it should call an all-party meeting on national presidents of all opposition parties and leaders of different political parties in Lok Sabha. We do want simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. in the country.
Mayawati supports 'One Nation, One Election'
BSP chief Mayawati supported the proposal for 'One Nation, One Election'. She posted on X, "Our party's stand on the approval given today by the Union Cabinet to the proposal to hold simultaneous elections of Lok Sabha, Assembly and local bodies in the country under the system of 'One Country, One Election' is positive, but its objective must be in the national and public interest."
The report of the high-level committee on 'one nation, one election' was placed before the Union Cabinet on Wednesday. Vaishnaw said the report was approved unanimously. Placing the report before the Cabinet was a part of the law ministry's 100-day agenda. The high-level committee had recommended simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies as the first step followed by synchronised local body polls within 100 days.
The panel had also proposed setting up of an 'Implementation Group' to look into the execution of the recommendations made by the committee.
The panel also recommended the preparation of a common electoral roll and voter ID cards by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in consultation with state election authorities.
At present, the ECI is responsible for the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, while the local body polls for municipalities and panchayats are managed by state election commissions.
(With agencies inputs)
Also read: One Nation, One Election destroys federalism, compromises democracy: Owaisi opposes ONOE
