NEW DELHI: The
Aam Aadmi Party
(AAP) has voiced strong opposition to the concept of 'one nation, one election' (
ONOE
), raising concerns over its potential to undermine
parliamentary democracy
. In a detailed letter to Niten Chandra, Secretary of the High-Level Committee on
One Nation, One Election
, dated January 18, AAP National Secretary Pankaj Gupta elaborated on the party’s stance against this proposal.
Gupta emphasized that the ONOE concept could lead to significant
political consequences
, including the destabilization of the parliamentary system, the inability to address hung legislatures, and the potential increase in anti-defection activities along with the buying and selling of MLAs and MPs.
"Aam Aadmi Party firmly stands against 'One Nation, One Election'. This concept threatens to erode the foundation of parliamentary democracy, the Constitution’s basic structure, and the federal fabric of our nation. It's ill-equipped to manage hung legislatures and may fuel the detestable practices of defection and political horse-trading," said the AAP Secretary.
In the letter, Gupta argued that ONOE would disproportionately benefit the party in power at the Union level, thereby putting regional parties and other national parties competing in state elections at a disadvantage. He contended that this approach would not only harm the multi-party system in India but also marginalize voices that have only recently found representation in mainstream politics.
"The notion that simultaneous elections would lead to financial savings is flawed and should not override the principles of democracy and constitutional integrity. The savings are negligible when compared to the Government of India’s annual budget," added the AAP official.
Gupta further pointed out that simultaneous elections could create a voting pattern where people vote for the same party in both state and national elections, especially if these are held close together. This, he believes, would unfairly benefit national parties and dominant regional parties, while smaller regional parties would suffer the most.
The Central government had earlier constituted a high-level committee, led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, to explore the feasibility of simultaneous elections in India. This move was followed by consultations with various national and state political parties, legal experts, and former election commissioners.
Additionally, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has also opposed the ONOE concept. In his communication, Kharge argued that simultaneous elections contradict the essence of federalism and the fundamental structure of the Constitution. He urged the High-Level Committee not to let the former President's reputation be used to undermine constitutional democracy in India.
Kharge highlighted the practical issue of dissolving several state assemblies, which are in the middle of their terms, as a major concern. According to him, this would amount to a betrayal of the electorate in those states.
The debate over 'One Nation, One Election' continues, with various political entities and constitutional experts weighing in on its implications for India's democratic and federal structure.
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