KOLKATA: In a daring and unequivocal transfer, Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal and Trinamool Congress chairperson, has expressed her dissent in opposition to the much-discussed idea of ‘One Nation, One Election.’ Mamata conveyed her reservations in a compelling letter addressed to the high-level panel spearheaded by former President Ramnath Kovind.
West Bengal CM & TMC chairperson Mamata Banerjee writes to the high-level committee on ‘One Nation, One Election’ says, “I regret I cannot agree with the concept of ‘One Nation, One Election’ ” pic.twitter.com/KmHg2GZzd7
— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2024
Challenges To Simultaneous Polls
Highlighting the impracticality of simultaneous elections at each the nationwide and state ranges, Mamata emphasised historic context by referencing the simultaneous conduct of the primary common elections in 1952. However, she famous that the coevality witnessed throughout these years has since been ruptured.
Constitutional Ambiguities
Expressing her remorse and disagreement with the committee’s formulation, Mamata delved into the conceptual difficulties she noticed within the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal. She questioned the which means of ‘One Nation’ in a constitutional and structural context, emphasizing that the Indian Constitution doesn’t adhere to the idea of ‘One Nation, One Government.’
‘Move Violates Electoral Trust’
Mamata argued in opposition to forcing states with out impending meeting elections into untimely polls merely for the sake of introducing coevality. She pressured that such a transfer would violate the electoral belief of the individuals who have elected their Vidhan Sabha representatives for a full five-year time period.
The West Bengal Chief Minister asserted that non-simultaneous federal and state elections are intrinsic to the Westminster system and shouldn’t be altered. She contended that non-simultaneity is a basic facet of the Indian Constitutional preparations’ fundamental construction.
Panel Seeks Opinion From Political Leaders
The high-level committee, underneath the management of former President Ram Nath Kovind, had sought opinions from political events on the ‘One Nation, One Election’ matter. Mamata’s letter comes as a robust and articulate response, outlining her agency stance in opposition to the proposed idea.
The committee, lively since its formation in September final 12 months, has carried out two conferences, inviting public opinions on the difficulty. It has additionally communicated with political events, searching for their views and proposing an interplay on a mutually agreed date to debate the concept of simultaneous polls. The complete change of opinions and the divergence of views comparable to Mamata’s underscore the complexity and significance of the continued debate surrounding ‘One Nation, One Election.’
