"Congress misused Article 356 leading to untimely elections," says BJP's Brij Bhushan backing 'One Nation, One Election'
Dec 15, 2024
Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) [India], December 15 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Brij Bhushan Sharan on Sunday voiced his support for the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal, alleging that the Congress party misused Article 356 of the Indian Constitution to topple elected governments, leading to untimely elections across various parts of the country. He further stated that frequent elections hamper developmental work.
"After independence, elections were initially held simultaneously. However, the Congress misused Article 356 to destabilise elected governments, necessitating unscheduled elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are making well-thought-out decisions in the country's interest. Frequent elections impose a model code of conduct, which disrupts developmental activities," said Brij Bhushan.
Meanwhile, several opposition leaders have criticised the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh demanded that the proposed bill be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee, arguing that it undermines democracy.
"The bill will be introduced in Parliament, and we demand it be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for thorough discussions. The Indian National Congress's position was made clear last year by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who wrote a four-page letter to the committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, expressing our opposition to the bill," Ramesh told ANI.
On December 12, the 'One Nation, One Election' bill was approved by the Union Cabinet, paving the way for its introduction in Parliament. However, even before its formal presentation, the bill has sparked a debate between the ruling party and the opposition.
In September this year, the Union Cabinet had approved the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal, which seeks to hold simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, urban local bodies, and panchayats within a 100-day timeframe.
The recommendations were detailed in a report submitted by a high-level panel chaired by former President Kovind.
Following the Cabinet's approval, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the decision, describing it as a significant step towards strengthening India's democracy.
