"Another new 'jumla' of the BJP": AAP MP Sandeep Pathak on "One Nation, One Election"
Sep 18, 2024
New Delhi [India], September 18 : Following the Union Cabinet's nod to the proposal of "One Nation, One Election," Aam Aadmi Party MP Sandeep Pathak slammed the central government and said that it was another new "jumla" of the BJP.
Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Pathak questioned the BJP's ability to not be able to conduct elections under "One Nation, One Election," pointing out their flaw of not being able to hold the elections in three or four states simultaneously.
He said that elections were supposed to be held in Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra and Jharkhand; however, polls are only being held in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir at the moment.
"I think that it is another new jumla of the BJP. A few days ago, elections were to be held in four states, out of which elections are being held in only two states: Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. Jharkhand and Maharashtra were left out. If you are not able to conduct elections of four states together, then how will you conduct One Nation, One Election? We are demanding that elections in Delhi be held along with Maharashtra and Jharkhand, but they are not agreeing to this either. When you are unable to conduct elections of three states or four states together, then how is it possible that elections will be held simultaneously in the entire country?" Pathak said.
He further questioned what would happen if the government failed in the middle of the term and if there would be President's rule for the rest of the term.
"Another important issue is that if a government falls in the middle of the term, will the president's rule be imposed in that state? Is the BJP thinking that it will run through governors and lieutenant governors or destabilise the states?" Pathak added.
Pathak further stated that the party would oppose this proposal in the Parliament.
Earlier today, the Union Cabinet approved the government's 'One Nation, One Election' proposal, which proposes simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, with urban body and panchayat polls to be held within 100 days.
The proposal will now be tabled in Parliament and must be cleared in both houses, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha--before it becomes the law.
