Moily mocks ‘One Nation, One Election’ idea, says it’s like fixing human lifespan


PTI, Jun 20, 2019, 7:00 PM IST

Hyderabad: Former Union law minister M Veerappa Moily mocked the “One Nation, One Election” idea on Thursday, saying it was akin to fixing the human lifespan.

The senior Congress leader dismissed the BJP-led NDA government’s push for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies as a “mere slogan” and an “eyewash” aimed at diverting people’s attention from “genuine problems” such as unemployment and agrarian distress.

He said state governments might fall during the term of the current Lok Sabha and wondered if those states would have to wait till the next parliamentary election if the practice of simultaneous polls came into being.

Seeking to draw an analogy, Moily said simultaneous elections were like fixing the lifespan of people.

“It is just like making a rule that everybody should live for 60 years. If people die earlier, what will happen then?,” he asked.

Moily noted that the practice of simultaneous elections was introduced during the time of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India.

Subsequently, for various reasons, state governments had to go without completing their term, resulting in a different election schedule for those states and the Lok Sabha.

“But at this distance of time (after so many years of separate polls to state assemblies and the Lok Sabha), how do you level the ground?,” the former Karnataka chief minister asked, adding, “Holding simultaneous elections is impractical now.”

“It is a good platform (to promote the idea) for him (Prime Minister Narendra Modi). He has a knack for searching for national platforms, this (the idea) is one such national platform that he wants to create for himself artificially,” Moily alleged, adding that the prime minister was “obsessed with national platforms like this”.

A committee for giving “time-bound” suggestions on the issue of “One Nation, One Election” would be set up by the prime minister, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced on Wednesday after a meeting of the chiefs of various political parties in New Delhi.

In a bid to build a consensus on holding simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, Modi had convened the meeting of presidents of all political parties. Of the 40 political parties invited, 21 attended the meeting while three shared their views on the subject in writing.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

SC notice to Karnataka, DK Shivakumar on CBI plea against withdrawal of consent by state govt

Will remain active in politics till my last breath: JD(S) patriarch & ex-PM Deve Gowda

BJP calls Congress govt ‘laughing stock’ as ‘samosa politics’ heats up in Himachal

Chikkaballapur: Yoga teacher feigns death by holding her breath, escapes murder bid

World Bunts Summit to be held in Mumbai on December 7

SC dismisses PIL seeking CBI probe into Tirupati laddus row

Salman Khan gets another threat; message sent to Mumbai traffic police helpline

Related Articles More

No greater feeling than serving those in need: Outgoing CJI D Y Chandrachud

CJI Chandrachud: A legacy of landmark verdicts that shaped society and some controversy too

Akhilesh Yadav attacks BJP on demonetisation anniversary

DeMo paved way for monopolies by devastating MSMEs, informal sector: Rahul on note ban anniversary

Comply with order allowing minority student to attend St Stephen’s College: HC tells DU

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

No greater feeling than serving those in need: Outgoing CJI D Y Chandrachud

Baikampady: Here, even elederly have to crawl under trains to cross tracks!

CJI Chandrachud: A legacy of landmark verdicts that shaped society and some controversy too

Neeraj Chopra to head to South Africa for off-season training later this month

Sensex, Nifty fall for 2nd day on FII selling; RIL, ICICI Bank major drag

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.