'Monstrous, mindless': Chidambaram criticises 'One Nation, One Election' plan
Former union minister P. Chidambaram has testified against the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal, labeling it unconstitutional and mindless. The joint parliamentary committee is currently reviewing the bill, which seeks to synchronize national and state-level elections.
Why it matters
The debate over simultaneous elections is a significant constitutional issue in India, touching on the balance of power between federal and state legislatures.
NEW DELHI: Former union minister P Chidambaram has opposed the proposed ‘One Nation, One Election’ framework before a joint parliamentary committee, calling the initiative “unconstitutional”, “monstrous” and “mindless”.Chidambaram, who appeared before the panel examining the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, argued that synchronising Lok Sabha and state assembly elections could violate the constitutional framework governing elected legislatures.Sources, quoted by news agency PTI, said the former home and finance minister told the panel that since legislatures are elected for five-year terms, curtailing their tenure would amount to a violation of the basic structure of the Constitution.Chidambaram also said his conscience did not allow him to support the proposed legislation and argued that the government does not have the required two-thirds majority to pass the bills, sources told PTI.The Congress leader described the proposal to hold nationwide elections simultaneously as a “mindless” exercise and…
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