CHENNAI: Chief minister M K Stalin on Wednesday launched a tirade against the Centre's 'one nation, one election' concept, saying the policy is
dangerous
,
impractical
, and
comical
. He said delimitation based on census after 2026 was like a Damocles sword hanging over people of south India.
Moving resolutions in the state assembly, Stalin said there is a "critical political situation" that made it mandatory to adopt resolutions on issues that keep the country and its people in fear. "
One nation one election
is the worst arbitrary idea. We should strongly oppose it. The ploy to reduce the number of elected representatives of people of Tamil Nadu in the name of delimitation based on census must be thwarted. All of us should raise our voice against both, since they undermine democracy," he said.
'One nation, one election' would pave way for illegal dissolution of state assemblies, Stalin said. "If Union government falls, will they dissolve all state assemblies and hold elections? Will those in power at the Centre voluntarily resign if the governments fall in some states and elections are to be held? Is it possible to conduct simultaneous elections not just for Parliament and assembly but also for local bodies?" Holding simultaneous elections to local bodies amounts to snatching the rights of the states, he said.
The DMK president said none should fall prey to selfish interests of those at the Centre, who will soon be rejected by the people. Delimitation of constituencies was carried out after every census until 1976 and was later suspended until 2001. The Constitution (84th Amendment) Act, 2001 extended the freezing of boundaries till the first census after 2026.
"Delimitation is a punishment given to states that effectively implement population control. The states that don't show interest in population control will receive an additional prize, their representation will increase," he said. "It would be better to keep the number of constituencies as it is until all states intensify population control measures," Stalin said. If representation is calculated on the number of people, it would destroy the very essence of democracy and further fuel the already simmering opposition, he said.
English (US) ·