Janak ram, Former Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha

"We oppose the BJP government's proposal of 'one nation, one election'. A state is an independent entity. The proposal will result in breaking the country. What will happen if a state government falls mid-way its term? Will the people have to wait for five years?" questioned Rajya Sabha MP and DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan.The DMK has abstained from the meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the issue on Wednesday in New Delhi.According to him, there is Article 356 of the Constitution of India under which a state government can be dismissed."Suppose a state government is dismissed under Article 356, then should the state elections wait till the polls for Lok Sabha are held? The rule that polling should be held within six months once a vacancy arisis will also be amended," he said.According to him, the states cannot be allowed to be under the control of the Central government."Regional parties emerged in the country as the national parties failed to meet the aspirations of the people. The 'one nation, one election' proposal would make the regional parties insignificant," he argued.Elangovan said, the governing power is divided between the Cental government and the state government in a federal set-up.According to him, the idea might work if there is proporational representation. But to continue in power, a party should get 50 per cent of the votes."In a multi-lingual, multi-cultural federal India, such a concept may not succeed unless the Constitution is amended, curtailing the power of the Central government in dismissing a state government," a senior AIADMK leader told preferring anonymity.On the other hand, PMK spokesperson Vinoba Bhoopathy is of the view that the proposal should be studied by an expert committee and that there should not be any tinkering with the democratic structure."The democratic and federal structure should not be disturbed. The 'one nation, one election' proposal has to be studied by an expert committee in detail first," Bhoopathy told .( With inputs from IANS )

Janak RamFOLLOW

Janak ram, Latest News

Contrary to the stand of his party, Congress leader Milind Deora on Wednesday said that the idea of 'One Nation, One Election' calls for an open-minded debate and said it should be given consideration, while criticising the political class for forget ...

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a meeting of various parties to discuss 'one nation, one election', or simultaneous parliamentary and assembly polls, Election Commission sources claimed that the idea is not feasible as of now. ...

The CPI-M on Wednesday claimed to have support from Sharad Pawar, President Nationalist Congress Party, and CPI against the 'one nation, one election' proposal. The party termed it "fundamentally anti-federal, anti-democratic" and striking at the ro ...

Congress leader Milind Deora on Wednesday said that the idea of 'One Nation, One Election' should be given a consideration, even though his party skipped the all-party meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the issue. ...

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday came out in support of the concept of 'One Nation, One Election'. ...

The concept of 'One Nation, One Election' is "fundamentally anti-federal and anti-democratic and strikes at the root of a parliamentary democratic system," said Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), on Wednesda ...

Deciding not to attend the government meeting on 'one nation, one election' concept, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday said without a comprehensive vision document, the idea would merely be a slogan. ...

The 'one nation, one election' will result in breaking the nation and is aimed at benefiting the BJP, said a senior DMK leader. ...