In a significant political move, the Kerala Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution opposing the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal put forth by the Central government. The resolution, introduced by Kerala Parliamentary Affairs Minister MB Rajesh on behalf of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, urged the Centre to roll back its decision, calling the proposal both “undemocratic” and “unconstitutional.”
Opposition to Simultaneous Elections
The One Nation, One Election initiative, recommended by a high-level committee led by former President Ramnath Kovind, advocates for simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies as the first step, followed by synchronized local body polls within 100 days. The committee’s goal is to streamline election processes and reduce costs. However, the Kerala Assembly firmly opposed the move, citing concerns over the impact on India’s federal structure and democratic values.
Minister MB Rajesh emphasized that the proposal undermines the federal system of the country by centralizing control over elections and diminishing the powers of state governments. “The decision would lead to the shortening of the terms of state assemblies and local self-governments, violating the democratic mandate of the people,” Rajesh said during the debate in the Assembly.
Threat to Federalism and Democracy
The resolution against One Nation, One Election expressed deep concerns over the potential erosion of India’s parliamentary democracy, with Rajesh stating that the proposal would “sabotage the diverse nature” of India’s democracy. He argued that forcing states and local bodies to follow a synchronized election schedule amounts to usurping the state’s powers and disregarding the regional political landscape.
Rajesh further criticized the Central government’s approach, accusing it of viewing elections as an economic burden rather than a fundamental aspect of democracy. “Elections are not merely an expense; they are the expression of the people’s will,” he remarked. He also suggested that there are simpler ways to reduce the costs associated with elections without compromising the democratic process or infringing upon the rights of state governments.
Impact on State Autonomy
Another major concern raised in the resolution was the effect that One Nation, One Election would have on the autonomy of state assemblies. Kerala’s government argued that the synchronization of elections would require cutting short or extending the terms of elected state governments, a move that would violate the democratic rights of voters who elect their state representatives for fixed terms.
Minister Rajesh termed this proposal a “violation of the people’s mandate”, stressing that it infringes upon a state’s sovereign power to hold elections as per its own schedule. He further argued that implementing simultaneous elections would centralize power in the hands of the Union government, weakening the federal system that has been a cornerstone of India’s governance structure since its independence.
Amendments and Unanimous Support
The resolution received overwhelming support in the Kerala Assembly, with both the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) standing together to oppose the proposal. The UDF suggested certain amendments to the original resolution, which were accepted by Minister Rajesh before the resolution was passed unanimously.
During the debate, opposition members reiterated concerns over the erosion of federalism and stressed the importance of preserving the diversity of India’s political landscape. They argued that elections held at different levels—national, state, and local—serve different purposes and represent distinct democratic processes. Forcing all elections to be held simultaneously, they claimed, would undermine the diversity of India’s electoral democracy.
Criticism of the Central Government’s Motives
Minister MB Rajesh did not shy away from criticizing the motives behind the One Nation, One Election proposal, suggesting that it was part of a broader political agenda driven by the RSS and the BJP. He claimed that the move was an attempt to centralize control and impose a uniform election cycle across the country, which would ultimately benefit the ruling party at the national level.
“This is an attempt to implement the RSS and BJP agenda under the guise of electoral reform,” Rajesh remarked, adding that the government should instead focus on reforms that enhance the effectiveness of governance without compromising the democratic rights of citizens or the autonomy of states.
Conclusion
With the Kerala Assembly’s unanimous passage of the resolution against One Nation, One Election, the state has made its stance clear: it will not support a move that threatens India’s federal structure or diminishes the importance of state autonomy and local governance. The resolution calls on the Central government to reconsider its decision and engage in a broader consultation with states before moving forward with any changes to India’s electoral system.
As discussions on One Nation, One Election continue across the country, Kerala’s strong opposition sets the stage for further debates on the balance between electoral efficiency and the preservation of India’s democratic and federal principles.
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