Vinod M Jain
Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President DK Shivakumar today strongly opposed the Central Government’s proposed ‘One Nation One Election’ initiative.
Expressing his views at a dialogue on ‘One Nation One Election’ organized by the Joint Parliamentary Study Committee at a private hotel in Bengaluru,he said the plan was a politically motivated power-centralizing scheme that would seriously damage the federal structure by weakening the states and it posed a danger to the democratic system.
As KPCC President and as Deputy Chief Minister of the Karnataka Government,he said he categorically rejects the proposal,which is being crafted to suit the convenience of those at the helm of power at the Centre.
He stated that the Karnataka Legislative Assembly had already passed a resolution opposing’One Country One Election,’and read out that resolution at the meeting.
He firmly stated that this is not a workable plan and added that it was practically impossible.
“If a government falls midterm due to political instability, a no-confidence motion,or lack of majority,what is to be done then? Where is the solution to this?.
Elections are held at different times in different states for different terms—Karnataka had its election three years ago,Tamil Nadu and Kerala had theirs just recently, and Punjab and Telangana had theirs at different times. How can these elections of varying schedules be synchronized?”he questioned.
Saying that it was a ploy to suppress the voices of regional parties and Opposition parties, he said that the Karnataka Government does not agree with this proposal, and that they remain committed to the overall stand of their party’s national leadership.
