Mamata opposes ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill, calls legislation attack on democracy

Kolkata: Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday slammed the Centre over its decision to push for the concept of simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, terming the move “unconstitutional and anti-federal”.

Calling it an attack on democracy, Banerjee alleged that the proposed legislation by the Centre “One Nation, One Election” was an attempt to centralise power undermining the country’s democratic structure. She also made it clear that her MPs will oppose the “draconian” legislation in the Parliament.

In a post on X, Banerjee stated: “The Union Cabinet has bulldozed their way through with the unconstitutional and anti-federal One Nation, One Election Bill, ignoring every legitimate concern raised by experts and opposition leaders.” Refusing to call it “a carefully-considered reform”, Banerjee said that this attempt by the Centre will damage the federal structure of the country.

“This is not a carefully-considered reform; it’s an authoritarian imposition designed to undermine India’s democracy and federal structure,” Banerjee stated further on her X handle.

“Our MPs will oppose this draconian legislation tooth and nail in Parliament. Bengal will NEVER bow to Delhi’s dictatorial whims. This fight is about saving India’s democracy from the clutches of autocracy!” Banerjee also mentioned.

Incidentally, the Union Cabinet on Thursday approved two Bills, including one to amend the Constitution to enable simultaneous elections, sources said. The draft legislations are expected to be introduced in the ongoing winter session of Parliament, they added.

Sources said that the Cabinet’s approval is limited to holding simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies, while elections for municipalities and Panchayats have been excluded “for now”. The Trinamool Congress supremo earlier wrote to the secretary of “One Nation, One Election” high level committee expressing her disagreement with the concept of simultaneous polls. Opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, have repeatedly expressed concerns about the proposed reform.

Trinamool Congress made its social media post opposing the move. “In January 2024, Smt. @MamataOfficial wrote a detailed letter to Dr. Niten Chandra, Secretary of the One Nation, One Election High-Level Committee, highlighting the glaring flaws in the Bill: Unconstitutional and anti-federal; Logistical and democratic nightmare; Unilateral, authoritarian, and top-down,” TMC said in a post on X. It further added: “Despite this, the Union Cabinet has recklessly pushed it forward. Let this be clear, @BJP4India: expect full resistance from our MPs in Parliament. This DRACONIAN, UNDEMOCRATIC legislation will NOT see the light of day.”

TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said: “The federal structure and condition of our country, with all its diversity, along with the number of states, do not make this decision feasible. A voter elects a particular government for 5 years but things often change midway as we have seen before in many places such as Maharashtra. How will ‘One Nation One Election’ function in such a scenario, where there is a need for immediate polls? We cannot agree to such an unscientific process.”