Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Assembly has passed a resolution urging the central government to withdraw its decision to approve the One Nation, One Election proposal. The resolution passed has termed it unconstitutional. The proposal of One Nation, One Election has been recommended by the Ram Nath Kovind panel.

State Legislative Affairs Minister MB Rajesh said that this would harm the federal system of the country. This would harm the diverse nature of the country's parliamentary democracy. He said that this would also pave the way for reduction in the tenure of various state assemblies and local self-governing bodies.

It is undemocratic to do so

He argued that the committee is looking at Lok Sabha, state assembly and local body elections as an expenditure, but doing so is undemocratic. Rajesh said that this is a condemnable step, because there are simpler ways to reduce election expenses and make administration effective.

One country-one election is not against the Constitution- Ramnath Kovind

Former President Ram Nath Kovind, who headed the high-level committee on one country, one election, said on Saturday that the idea of ​​holding simultaneous elections was considered by the Constitution makers. Therefore, it cannot be unconstitutional. He said that one country, one election is a popular slogan, which has been misinterpreted by some people.

An implementation committee will consider the constitutional amendments required to implement this plan and then the final decision will have to be taken by the Parliament. Delivering the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial Lecture, Kovind said that till 1967, the first four Lok Sabha and Assembly elections were held simultaneously. Then how can holding simultaneous elections be called unconstitutional?

Ramnath Kovind said this

Ram Nath Kovind further said that some people are saying that this idea is unconstitutional. But, this is not true, because this concept was considered by the constitution makers. Many institutions including the Election Commission have supported this idea in the past.

The former President said that in fact, simultaneous elections will strengthen federalism as all three levels of government will work together for five years. One country, one election is a popular slogan which has been misinterpreted by some people. A narrative has been created that under this there will be only one election and there will be no further elections.