Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Jul 11: Goa Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao on Saturday opposed the proposed One Nation, One Election initiative before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, alleging that the proposal is inconsistent with India's federal structure and would weaken regional political parties.
Speaking to reporters after the JPC meeting, Alemao said he had submitted a memorandum detailing his objections to the proposal.
"Today, the Joint Parliamentary Committee debated the 129th Amendment to our Constitution, basically on One Nation, One Election. I have submitted a memorandum. I can't share it with you, but we've opposed One Nation, One Election because it doesn't align with our federal structure. It is a threat to our federal structure, especially to the state structure and regional parties," he said.
Alemao argued that simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections would conflict with several constitutional provisions and undermine India's democratic framework.
"One Nation, One Election, if held simultaneously, violates several constitutional provisions. We need to understand that India was a healthy democracy from 1952 to 1967, when simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections were held. But it was the natural course of the Constitution and subsequent political developments, including the dissolution of Assemblies and Parliament, that brought simultaneous elections to an end," he said.
He said the Congress had presented its concerns before the committee, asserting that India's constitutional framework and democratic traditions must be preserved.
"We spoke before the honourable chairman and presented our views. India is united. India cannot be divided. The BJP wants to showcase everything as 'one'. One Nation, One Election, one religion, one caste and so on. We have objected to this proposal and submitted our memorandum because, in our vibrant democratic set-up, we must respect the Constitution that has guided the country for several decades," Alemao said.
Echoing similar concerns, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Goa MLA Venzy Viegas said the proposal would undermine India's federal structure by allowing national issues to overshadow local and state-specific concerns.
"One Nation, One Election undermines the federal fabric of the country. Local and state issues will be overshadowed by national parties and their national narratives," Viegas said.
Stressing that elections are essential for public accountability, Viegas said staggered elections at different levels provide voters with regular opportunities to evaluate the performance of governments.
"Elections are about accountability. Panchayat, Zilla Parishad, and municipal elections provide people with regular opportunities to assess the government's performance. If all elections are held together, a government can ignore public issues for five years. Even if the price of a gas cylinder rises to Rs 2,000 or Rs 3,000, there would be no immediate electoral accountability," he said.
Viegas also highlighted the logistical challenges of conducting simultaneous elections, saying the exercise would require extensive deployment of electronic voting machines, security personnel and election staff across the country.
He further raised concerns over the anti-defection law during the committee meeting, pointing to Goa's history of political defections.
"In Goa, defection ruins democracy and makes political stability very difficult," he said.
Alemao alleged that the proposal was intended to consolidate political power by weakening smaller and regional parties.
"I believe this is only being done to make sure that smaller parties and regional parties are weakened. This would be the end of regional parties, and that is why we have strongly opposed the proposal," he added.