Mamata Banerjee Calls One Nation, One Election 'Authoritarian', Opposition Leaders Join Chorus

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee strongly criticised the Union Cabinet's approval of two bills on Thursday, including one that proposes an amendment to the Constitution to allow simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

The move brings the BJP's 'one nation, one election' plan closer to realisation.

Photo Credit: PTI

Banerjee, who has long been an outspoken critic of the proposal, labelled it an "anti-federal" move and described it as an "authoritarian imposition aimed at undermining India's democracy and federal structure."

She vowed that her party's MPs would "oppose this draconian legislation, tooth and nail" and declared, "Bengal will NEVER bow to Delhi's dictatorial whims." She said that this was about "saving India's democracy from the clutches of autocracy."

This strong opposition underscores her longstanding disapproval of simultaneous elections, a concern she voiced in January when she wrote to the Centre-appointed panel led by former President Ram Nath Kovind.

She raised objections over the constitutional and structural implications of the term 'one nation' and the timing of elections, particularly if there were a large gap between existing election cycles.

Mamata Banerjee's condemnation was echoed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, who called the proposal "anti-democratic". "Let us resist this attack on Indian democracy with all our strength!" he urged.

Bengal and Tamil Nadu are currently set to hold Assembly elections in 2026, which will be affected by the proposal.

Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi and leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, also voiced his opposition, calling for a political consensus and greater focus on the country's healthcare and education systems rather than the "misplaced priorities" of simultaneous elections. He suggested that India needed "one nation, one education" and "one nation, one healthcare system," not "one nation, one election."

Assam MP Gaurav Gogoi, representing the Congress, also raised concerns about the potential negative impact on India's federal structure. He pointed out the contradiction in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's approach, noting that despite his support for "one nation, one election", the government had not held the Haryana and Maharashtra elections together when the opportunity arose.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena faction and the CPI(M)'s John Brittas also joined the chorus of opposition to the proposal.

On the other hand, the BJP and its allies, including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal United, welcomed the proposal. "Nitish Kumar has always advocated for simultaneous polls... If there is one election, it will reduce expenses significantly," said JDU spokesperson Sanjay Kumar. The Lok Janshakti Party, led by Union Minister Chirag Paswan, also supported the bill, citing the cost and time wasted due to frequent elections.

Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut from the BJP also backed the initiative, calling it "a good step" as it would save government time and resources.

Earlier on Thursday, the Union Cabinet approved two bills related to 'one nation, one election', which could be tabled in the ongoing Parliament session, provided there is enough time between disruptions and adjournments caused by BJP-Congress disputes. The approval follows the Kovind panel's report in September, which stated that simultaneous elections would transform the electoral process, optimise resources, and reduce the financial burden on the country.

The 'One Nation, One Election' proposal would mean that all citizens would vote for Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the same year, if not at the same time. Currently, only three states - Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, and Odisha - hold their elections alongside the Lok Sabha elections, while others follow different cycles.

The proposal, part of the BJP's 2019 manifesto, has faced massive criticism from opposition parties, especially regarding its potential constitutional implications and the unequal resources available to regional parties.

Concerns have also been raised about the high costs of procuring electronic voting machines (EVMs), which the Election Commission has estimated would cost nearly Rs 10,000 crore every 15 years.

For the proposal to succeed, constitutional amendments will be necessary, requiring ratification by all state governments and union territories, as well as major political parties.

These amendments would affect several Articles, including 83 (the term of Parliament), 85 (dissolution of the Lok Sabha), 172 (the duration of state legislatures), 174 (dissolution of state legislatures), and 356 (President's Rule).

Legal experts have warned that failing to pass these amendments could lead to legal challenges over the proposal's potential violation of India's federal structure.