'One Nation, One Election' is not acceptable, says Mamata; urges ECI to look into matter 'very very rationally'

 In a strong statement on Thursday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who also leads the Trinamool Congress, expressed her reservations about the feasibility of the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, citing India’s federal structure.

PTI, Kolkata, Jan 11, 2024: Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said the 'One Nation, One Election' idea is not practically feasible going by India's federal structure. 

Hours after sending a letter to Dr Niten Chandra, secretary of a high-level committee that has called for suggestions for implementation of the idea, Mamata requested the Election Commission of India (ECI) to look into the matter "very very rationally". "I do not appreciate it in a practical sense because it is not possible, not acceptable, and not correct from the federal structure point of view. 

I will request the ECI to see it very sincerely, they have to be very very rational in this case particularly," the Chief Minister told newspersons at the state secretariat. 

"This is not only our voice but INDIA's voice. We must see our state policy, Central policy, state structure, our federal structure," she added. In a letter to the panel secretary, the TMC supremo said that in 1952, the first general elections were simultaneously conducted for the C entral and state levels. 

"There was such simultaneity for some years. But the coevality has since been ruptured...," she said. "I regret that I cannot agree with the concept of 'One Nation, One Election', as framed by you. We disagree with your formulation and proposal," she wrote. 

She said there are basic conceptual difficulties in agreeing with the committee, and the concept is not clear. 

The Chief Minister questioned the meaning of 'One Nation' in the context, and said, "While I understand the meaning of one nation in a historical-political-cultural sense, I do not understand the exact Constitutional and structural implication of the term in the instant case. Does the Indian Constitution follow the concept of 'One Nation, One Government'? I am afraid, it does not." 

Mamata said unless the "basic enigma" of where the concept came from is solved, it is difficult to arrive at any firm view on the catchy phrase. 

The Chief Minister said that states which are not expecting general elections to the assembly should not be forced to go for "premature general elections for the sake of introduction of coevality only: that will be basic violation of the electoral trust of the people who have elected their Vidhan Sabha representatives for full five years." 

"The Central or a state government may not complete their term for various reasons, for example a coalition breaking to a vote of no-confidence," she said, adding that during the last 50 years, Lok Sabha has witnessed several premature dissolutions. According to her, fresh elections are the only option in such a situation.

"Non-simultaneous federal and state elections are a basic feature in the Westminster system which should not be altered. To paraphrase, non-simultaneity is part of the basic structure of the Indian Constitutional arrangements," the Chief Minister said. 

The high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind had written to political parties seeking their opinion on the matter. 

The committee has held two meetings since it was constituted in September last year. 

It has sought views from the public on the issue and has also written to political parties seeking their views and interaction on a "mutually agreed date" on the idea of simultaneous polls.