AAP MP Sandeep Pathak Criticizes BJP’s ‘One Nation, One Election’ Proposal

New Delhi, India – Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sandeep Pathak has criticized the central government’s ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, calling it another ‘jumla’ by the BJP. Pathak questioned the BJP’s ability to conduct simultaneous elections, pointing out that elections are currently only being held in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, while Jharkhand and Maharashtra are left out.

Pathak said, ‘I think that it is another new jumla of the BJP. A few days ago, elections were to be held in four states, out of which elections are being held in only two states: Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir. Jharkhand and Maharashtra were left out. If you are not able to conduct elections of four states together, then how will you conduct One Nation, One Election? We are demanding that elections in Delhi be held along with Maharashtra and Jharkhand, but they are not agreeing to this either. When you are unable to conduct elections of three states or four states together, then how is it possible that elections will be held simultaneously in the entire country?’

He further questioned what would happen if the government failed in the middle of the term and if there would be President’s rule for the rest of the term. ‘Another important issue is that if a government falls in the middle of the term, will the president’s rule be imposed in that state? Is the BJP thinking that it will run through governors and lieutenant governors or destabilise the states?’ Pathak added.

Pathak stated that the AAP would oppose this proposal in Parliament. Earlier today, the Union Cabinet approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, which proposes simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, with urban body and panchayat polls to be held within 100 days. The proposal will now be tabled in Parliament and must be cleared in both houses, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, before it becomes law.