Key BJP Ally First Statement on One Nation, One Election: 'Wanted It From Beginning'

New Delhi: Key BJP ally and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has welcomed Modi government clearing Kovind panel report on ‘one nation, one election’ saying they wanted it from the beginning. On Wednesday, the Modi Cabinet in a big move towards electoral reforms in the country, cleared a high-level committee report led by the Kovind panel on conducting simultaneous elections in the country.

In a statement on Thursday, BJP ally and Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu said, “We are welcoming it. From the beginning, we wanted to have one nation, one election…”

The Kovind panel report says that around 35 political parties are in support for conducting one nation, one election while around 15 parties don't want it.  

Modi Govt goes ahead on major poll promises of one nation, one election

Moving ahead with its "one nation, one election" plan, the government on Wednesday accepted a high-level panel's recommendations for holding simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and local bodies in a phased manner after a countrywide consensus-building exercise.

Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the cabinet's decision, saying it will be a giant stride towards landmark electoral reforms in the country. Various opposition parties, however, said holding simultaneous polls is not practical.

Asserting that several political parties are already on board, the government said even those parties that are opposed to it may now feel pressure from within to change their stand due to the widespread support on the issue from the people of the country.

Announcing the Union Cabinet's approval to the proposal, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said an implementation group would be formed to take forward the recommendations of the panel headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind and detailed discussions would be held on various fora across the country over the next few months.

"We will seek to create a consensus over the next few months.... Our government believes in creating a consensus on items which affect democracy and the nation in the long run. This is a subject, a topic that will strengthen our nation...," Vaishnaw said.

Responding to a question on the stand of opposition parties, the minister said, "The opposition might start feeling internal pressure (about 'one nation, one election') as more than 80 per cent of the respondents who responded during the consultation process have given their positive support, especially the youth. They are very much in favour of this." Asked by reporters when the recommendations could be implemented and whether a bill would be brought in the upcoming winter session of Parliament, Vaishnaw evaded a direct reply but pointed out that Shah has said the government would implement it in its current tenure.

After the discussions are completed, implementation would follow in steps and it would be the government's endeavour to build a consensus over the next few months, he said.

Once the consultation process is over, the law ministry will draft a bill, place it before the cabinet and subsequently, take it to Parliament for simultaneous polls to come into effect, the minister added. Sources in the government later said a singular bill or a set of bills will be brought before Parliament.

With inputs from PTI