One Nation, One Election: Mamata opposes proposal, writes to high-level panel

Mamata Banerjee says she has “basic conceptual difficulties in agreeing” with the proposal.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on January 11 wrote to the high-level committee, headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, highlighting her objections to the concept of  "One Nation, One Election".

Expressing her disagreement with the concept of simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, she said it would be against the basic structure of India's constitutional arrangements.

“If the framers of the Indian Constitution did not mention the concept of ‘One Nation, One Election’, how have you arrived at the concept of ‘One Nation, One Election’? Unless this basic enigma is sorted, it is difficult to arrive at any firm view on the catchy phrase,” the letter stated.

Banerjee’s letter was in response to a letter sent to her by the committee. She also mentioned an eventuality where the Lok Sabha is subjected to untimely dissolution while the state Assemblies have unaffected longevity.

"Instability of a government at the Centre and consequent impact on the Parliament should not destabilise the State legislatures, to be sure! How does your esteemed committee propose to navigate these questions?” she asked.

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

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— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2024

Banerjee said she has “basic conceptual difficulties in agreeing” with the proposal and that the concept is not clear from the letter. “What is ‘One Nation’ in this context? 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. Our Constitution federally conceives of the Indian nation,” she wrote.

Banerjee also highlighted that she has “some difficulties” with the methodological approach.

“You seem to be conveying some sort of a unilateral top-down ‘decision’ already taken by the Central Government — to impose a structure that is certainly against the spirit of a truly democratic and federal one laid down by the esteemed Constitution of India. From the tenor of your letter, it appears that you view the proposed amendments to the Constitution as a mere formality that is to be got over with.” she said.

Also read: One Nation, One Election: Meaning, benefits and challenges

The high-level committee, under the leadership of former President Ram Nath Kovind, had sought opinions from political parties on the 'One Nation, One Election' matter.

The committee, active since its formation in September last year, conducted two meetings and invited public opinions on the issue. It has also communicated with political parties, seeking their views and proposing an interaction on a mutually agreed date to discuss the idea of simultaneous polls.