"One king, one ruler, one nation...": CM Mamata Banerjee takes jibe at BJP's 'One Nation, One Election'

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], February 2 : West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Friday launched a scathing attack on the BJP's proposal of 'One nation, One election', asserting that it would pave the way for "dictatorship and erode India's diversity."
"Are you moving towards a presidential form of government? To put it clearly, it would mean that there is one king, one man, one ruler, one nation, one language, one food, and everything is the same," CM Banerjee said.
Mamata aid she will be visiting the national capital on February 5.
"I will be going to Delhi on February 5 to attend the meeting on 'One nation, One election' on February 6th," the CM said.
CM Banerjee also accused the BJP of changing the history, geography, and syllabus of the country and putting its opponents in jail.
"They are changing history, geography, and the syllabus, breaking the federal structure. They (the BJP) cannot fight alone, so they put those who oppose them in jail," CM Banerjee said.
CM Banerjee accused the BJP of causing damage to everyone to get votes but warned the BJP that its actions would backfire when it loses power.
Speaking at a public event in West Bengal, CM Banerjee said,"They are trying to manage to get votes by causing damage to everyone, by calling someone a thief, and by arresting everyone. You (BJP) don't understand that today you (BJP) are doing damage; tomorrow you (BJP) will be damaged when you are not in power."
She criticised the Centre for extensively addressing specific issues but remaining silent on matters such as violence in Manipur, and the mistreatment of women.
"Where were you during the Manipur crisis? We sent a team. Even I wanted to but did not get the permission. Women were paraded naked. Today, they are coming here as migratory birds in Bengal," she added.
"What happened to the funds they collected during the COVID-19 under the PM Cares? They have done all the defense deals in foreign. They used to call Rajiv Gandhi as 'Bofors Gandhi'. But what are they doing? Because Mahua Moitra questioned them, she was expelled," she said while advocating Mahua Moitra
Meanwhile, the High-Level Committee (HLC) on One Nation One Election, chaired by Ram Nath Kovind, former President of India, on Friday, held a consultation round with a delegation from Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) comprising Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, R Dinesh, President, Sanjiv Puri, President Designate, Marut Sen Gupta, Deputy Director General, Amita Sarkar, Deputy Director General, Binoy Job, Executive Director, and G Srivastava, Chief Economic Strategy and Project Coordination.
The delegation made a presentation before the committee in which the views of the industry on ONOE and its impact were highlighted, after which they presented a formal memorandum.
Ram Nath Kovind, Chairman HLC also held an interaction today with Dr. Santosh Kumar Suman, Minister Government of Bihar & National Chairman, Hindustani Awaam Morcha (HAM), who presented the view of his party on holding simultaneous elections.
The fifth meeting of the committee was attended by NK Singh, former Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission, Dr Subhash C. Kashyap, former Secretary General, Lok Sabha and Sanjay Kothari, former Chief Vigilance Commissioner.
One Nation, One Election was constituted through a notification dated September 20, 2023.
Mamata Banerjee then launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, saying she is doubtful whether Congress would be able to secure even 40 seats in the upcoming general elections.
Speaking at a public event in West Bengal, CM Mamata said, "I doubt if you (Congress) will win 40. I was offering two seats and would have let them win. But they wanted more. I said okay, contest on all 42 then. Rejected! There has been no conversation with them since."
The CM further expressed her disappointment after learning about the Congress Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra programme in West Bengal through unofficial channels, despite being an INDIA bloc member.
"They have come to do a programme in Bengal but did not even inform me as an INDIA bloc member. I got to know through administrative sources. They had called Derek to request that the rally be allowed to pass through," the CM said.
Further, the TMC supremo challenged the Congress to defeat the BJP in UP, Banaras, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh if they had the courage.
"If you have the courage, defeat the BJP in UP, Banaras, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh," CM Banerjee said.