Mamata Banerjee, the chief of Trinamool Congress and the Chief Minister of West Bengal, has firmly opposed the ‘One Nation, One Election’ idea proposed by a committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind. In a letter addressed to Dr Niten Chandra, the Secretary of the committee, Banerjee argued that this concept would be in direct contradiction to the fundamental structure of India’s constitutional arrangements.
She pointed out that the simultaneous conduct of general elections at both central and state levels was a practice initiated in 1952 but has since been disrupted. Expressing her disagreement with the committee’s proposal, Banerjee cited “basic conceptual difficulties” and a lack of clarity in the committee’s formulation.
Banerjee questioned the constitutional and structural implications of the term ‘One Nation, One Election’ in the context of the Indian Constitution. She raised the intriguing point of whether the Indian Constitution adheres to the concept of ‘One Nation, One Government,’ asserting that it does not. The West Bengal Chief Minister emphasized the need to unravel the origin of this concept before forming a definitive opinion.
Moreover, Banerjee highlighted the potential repercussions on states not expecting general elections to the assembly. She argued against compelling such states to undergo “premature general elections for the sake of introduction of coevality,” labeling it a fundamental violation of the electoral trust placed by the people in their Vidhan Sabha representatives for a full five-year term. She acknowledged instances where central or state governments might not complete their term due to reasons such as coalition breakdowns or votes of no-confidence, indicating that in such cases, fresh elections should be the only option.
Banerjee also drew attention to the historical context, stating that the Lok Sabha has witnessed several premature dissolutions over the last 50 years. In her view, non-simultaneous federal and state elections are a fundamental feature of the Westminster system, and altering this aspect would contravene the basic structure of India’s constitutional arrangements.
The West Bengal Chief Minister’s stance comes in response to the committee, led by Ram Nath Kovind, reaching out to political parties for their opinions on the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal. Banerjee’s comprehensive letter underscores her reservations about the conceptual basis of the idea, the potential impact on states, and the constitutional implications, emphasizing that non-simultaneity is an integral part of India’s constitutional structure.
In conclusion, Mamata Banerjee’s rejection of the ‘One Nation, One Election’ idea is grounded in her concerns about the proposal’s conceptual clarity, potential violation of electoral trust, and its impact on the established constitutional structure of India. Her detailed arguments reflect a thoughtful analysis of the issue, questioning the feasibility and implications of such a significant electoral reform.