JMM opposes simultaneous polls

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) today opposed simultaneous election at national level and states assemblies saying it was against the constitutional provisions.

Describing the One Nation, One Election concept as unconstitutional and impractical, JMM said there were several discrepancies in it and the party has objection over the ongoing debate across the country on the issue.

The party viewpoint on the matter was expressed by JMM president Shibu Soren through a letter written to the Chairman of the Law Commission of India, Justice (retired) Balbir Singh Chauhan.

Soren claimed that the concept was against the constitutional provisions of fundamental democratic system.

Dissatisfied over the performance of national political parties for the last few decades, a resentment had prevailed among a large chunk of deprived sections of the society, dalits, adivasis, backward class and minorities, leading to the support to the regional parties in their respective areas, Soren, a Lok Sabha member from Dumka, said in his letter.

Due to political awareness, he said these deprived sections of the society have united for their rights and supported the regional parties, which made the regional parties to make their presence strongly in 70 per cent of the states.

The Regional parties have won the confidence of these sections by effectively addressing their problems and even formed government in several states, Soren claimed.

The JMM leader said the national issues would take over the regional issues in the proposed One Nation, One Election system while the interest of the weaker sections would be harmed.

He said the JMM has objection over the ongoing debate on the issue as it was an issue of constitutional amendment and not the review of law.

The issue of "One Nation, One Election" should have come from the floor of the House and debate should have taken place by the parliamentary committee comprised of members from all parties to send out message that it represented viewss of all section of the society.

It would not be possible to implement the proposed system as it would face many hurdles, Soren said and elaborated that the country has witnessed coalition government at centre and various states during the last three/four decades and on many occasions, the coalition government fell before completing its full term.

In the event of implementation of one nation, one election system, would the government hold simultaneous election by dismissing the democratically elected popular governments in the states? Soren asked and stated if the government collapsed in some states, would they dismiss the popular government at the Centre and hold simultaneous election?