Opposition says “One Nation, One Election” is not practical and only aims to divert attention

New Delhi: The opposition bloc India on Wednesday termed the Modi government's decision on 'One Nation, One Election' as “unworkable” and something aimed at diverting attention during an election period, while questioning how the decision could be implemented when it is not even possible to hold elections in one go.

Soon after the Cabinet approved the proposal, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters, “This is not practical. They are raising such issues to divert attention when elections are due. People will not accept this… We do not stand by it. 'One nation, one election' cannot work in a democracy. Elections have to be held on demand if our democracy is to survive.”

The Trinamool Congress leader in the Rajya Sabha called it “just another cheap trick of the undemocratic BJP” and asked why elections in Maharashtra were not announced at the same time as elections in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir.

“Here's why. The Maharashtra government announced the Mukhyamantri Ladki Behen Yojana in this June's budget. The first tranche arrived in the bank accounts of women in August and the second tranche will reach the beneficiaries in October. You cannot deal with three states at once and talk of 'One Nation, One Election'. And also tell us how many constitutional changes, including reducing or extending the tenure of state assemblies, will be made! Classic Modi-Shah 'Jumla',” he said.

Congress general secretary (organization) KC Venugopal said the INDIA bloc was against this idea and the Modi government had come up with it to divert attention from pressing existential issues.