"What is motive behind this?": Farooq Abdullah questions government over 'One Nation-One Election' thrust

Sep 16, 2024

Ganderbal (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 17 : National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah on Monday questioned the BJP-led government over its intention to implement 'One Nation-One Election' concept in its present tenure and asked how will it bring various political parties onboard a suggestion which has wide ramifications and about which there are several queries.
"They (Centre) had brute majority when they raised this issue. What was the motive? To set a precedent. This is a federal structure. Unity in diversity, that is India. How will they bring everyone onboard? There is election in our state but not in other states. Suppose my government fell and then they will put president rule till the next election comes. What is the motive behind this? who are you fooling?" he said. Farooq Abdullah is a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sources said on Sunday that the Bhartiya Janata Party-led government will continue to work on the agenda that was promised in 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was first sworn in as PM and is committed to hold simultaneous general and assembly elections. Sources said that One Nation-One Election will become a reality in this term of the government and the BJP is hoping to muster support of other political parties as well.
Several opposition parties and chief ministers of opposition-ruled states have opposed the idea of One Nation-One Election.
Prime Minister Modi has been advocating reforms in the electoral process and holding of simultaneous general and assembly elections.
The High-Level Committee on 'One Nation-One Election', led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, in its report stated that frequent elections create an atmosphere of uncertainty and impact policy decisions and holding simultaneous elections would bring enhanced certainty in policy making.