Ghulam Nabi Azad Emphasizes Comprehensive Consultations Before Implementing ‘One Nation, One Election
02-10-2023 : Former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, a member of the high-level committee tasked with exploring the feasibility of implementing ‘One Nation, One Election,’ stated that he believes there is no immediate urgency in implementing this initiative. He emphasized that before any decision is made regarding the synchronization of elections at various levels of government, thorough consultations with all political parties will be conducted.
The Indian government, on September 2, established an eight-member panel led by former President Ram Nath Kovind. The panel’s primary objective is to examine and provide recommendations on the prospect of holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, Municipalities, and Panchayats.
Azad clarified that the initial meeting held by the committee was merely an introductory session. He expressed the view that rushing into the implementation of ‘One Nation, One Election’ would not be prudent, as it necessitates extensive consultations with national parties, regional parties, and recognized political entities. According to Azad, the committee will not make decisions independently; instead, it will actively seek the opinions and perspectives of various stakeholders.
In his comments on the Women’s Reservation Bill, Azad acknowledged the significant delay in its passage, noting that it should have been enacted much earlier. However, he commended political parties for their flexibility and willingness to pass the legislation in both Houses of Parliament, highlighting the importance of achieving unanimity on this critical issue.
Regarding the delay in conducting Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Azad stressed the essence of elections in upholding democracy. He firmly stated that the absence of elections would undermine the democratic process. Azad pointed out that while parliamentary elections have been conducted regularly, there has been a considerable lapse of time since the last Assembly polls in the region, underscoring the pressing need for their overdue conduct.
