Lok Sabha Speaker, Sumitra Mahajan on Saturday set the ball rolling for debate on ‘One Nation One Election’ issue at the conference of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Region-IV here, which was attended by Vidhan Sabha speakers, deputy speakers and some MLAs from Gujarat, Haryana, J&K and Himachal Pradesh.
“We are just sharing out views to take the concerns forward. We are not here to take any decision,” she said.
“India followed the system of simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas for sometime, earlier. Now it is not there. We need to ponder over the issue as in the midst of elections one after another in different parts of the country, the election code of conduct hampers the development process as the schemes get stuck. Much money is also spent,” she said.
Mahajan said today or tomorrow, the country will have to take the call, whether to close the chapter or do it, but only after proper debate, considering all issues, including constitutional aspects.
Speaker of J&K Assembly, Dr Nirmal Singh said whatever the decision is taken on the One Nation One Election issue, it should be taken with consensus. Another MLA from J&K (Baramullah), Javid Hussain Baig pointed that simultaneous elections would lead to so many compromises in practical, if the Assembly is to be dissolved over governance or other important issues. “Will it be possible to wait for simultaneous election in such a case. We can certainly save money by reporting to One Nation One election, but will it not be against national interest,” he said, referring to the example of J&K in this regard.
Another MLA from J&K, Bashir Ahmad Dar talked of the challenge of weather for holding elections simultaneously in the entire country.
Speaker from Gujarat, Rajendra Suryaprasad Trivedi said the simultaneously elections would not only save money, but the time also. “We have on election after another in our states. Every time, the teachers of schools are put on the election duty, which disturbs the education system. We can save on education and even security forces in case of One Nation One Election,” he said.
Speaker of Haryana Assembly, Kanwar Pal said the election of different bodies continue for five years, and the public representatives don’t get enough time to perform. “The simultaneous elections will spare more time for us to perform and for people to evaluate our performance,” he said.