Political analysts suspect that the ‘One Nation, One Election’ agenda of the Modi government seems to be a ploy to divert the public’s attention from soaring prices, inflation, unemployment, Manipur, China, Adani and other issues which damaged the government image. There is a heated discussion in the political circles about holding a special session of the Parliament for five days from September 18 to 22. Speculations have started that the key decision paving the way for the ‘One Nation, One Election’ may be implemented in these meetings.
If the Modi government prepares for simultaneous elections, State legislative elections will have to be held along with the Parliament elections. If that is the case, what will be done in Karnataka, where elections were already held? Will Telangana elections be shifted to April? Or will the Centre itself come to the elections in December? Is the constitutional amendment necessary for this possible? Why is the Modi government bringing simultaneous issue to the fore now? Is the government’s prophesied ‘One Nation, One Election’ feasible? These are the unanswered questions the public needs answers for.
The central government has taken a key decision in the wake of the campaign that the BJP is planning to go for early Lok Sabha elections with the announcement of a special session of Parliament for five days. A committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind was formed on Friday to examine the possibilities of simultaneous elections.
The government said that the committee will study the feasibility of holding Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections simultaneously with ‘One Nation, One Election’. Official sources revealed that the committee will meet with experts and leaders of political parties on the issue of simultaneous elections and take their views.
However, the government has not clarified the agenda of the Parliament session. The Centre, which is holding such urgent session, has not disclosed the reason or the agenda of the meetings, so speculations have started. There is a strong campaign that the BJP is going to cancel the Lok Sabha and go for early elections.
Ever since he came to power in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been emphasising the issue of simultaneous election management. Ram Nath Kovind, who became President in 2017, also supported Modi’s view. Addressing the Parliament in 2018, he stated that due to the consecutive elections, the pressure on human resources will increase due to the economic burden, and at the same time, the electoral code of conduct that will come into force with the consecutive elections will create obstacles to the development programs.