“India that is Bharat, Union of States..” Rahul Gandhi Terms ‘One Nation One Election’ an attack on federal structure

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the BJP-led Central government on Sunday for considering the concept of holding concurrent Lok Sabha and state assembly elections in India. Rahul Gandhi, who represents Wayanad in Kerala as a Congress Member of Parliament, viewed the “One Nation, One Election” idea as an assault on the “Union of States,” which he believes defines India. Rahul Gandhi expressed these concerns on his social media platform, emphasizing that India is a union comprising multiple states and that the idea of uniform elections undermines this union.

The Central government formed an eight-member committee, with members including former President Kovind, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, former Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Finance Commission chairman NK Singh, former Lok Sabha secretary general Subhash C Kashyap, senior advocate Harish Salve, and former chief vigilance commissioner Sanjay Kothari, to assess and provide recommendations for conducting simultaneous elections in the country.

This committee’s formation coincided with the announcement of a special session of Parliament from September 18 to 22, raising questions from opposition leaders regarding the agenda and the lack of prior consultation. Despite the controversy, the government insists that the committee will commence work immediately and deliver its recommendations promptly.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will participate in the committee’s meetings as a special invitee. However, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury declined to participate, citing concerns about the committee’s terms of reference.

Historically, India conducted simultaneous elections for state assemblies and the Lok Sabha until 1967. Subsequent early dissolutions of legislative assemblies and the Lok Sabha in the late 1960s and early 1970s led to changes in electoral schedules for both states and the nation.

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