AAP slams BJP-led Centre's ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal as unconstitutional

New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) criticised the government's "One Nation, One Election" proposal on Monday, claiming it was an attempt by the BJP to "legalise the sale and purchase" of elected officials as part of its "Operation Lotus" campaign.

The party also asserted that the BJP was pushing for this electoral system in order to switch from the parliamentary to the presidential form of government.

The resource-and-cash-rich parties will suppress the issues of states with the help of money and muscle power, and also the decision of voters will be affected if simultaneous elections of the Lok Sabha and assemblies are held, AAP spokesperson Atishi claimed at a press conference.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led party’s response came over a month after the Law Commission issued a public notice seeking comments from stakeholders, including political parties and the Election Commission, on the proposal to hold simultaneous elections in the country.

“The AAP vehemently opposes the proposal of ‘One Nation, One Election’, it is unconstitutional and against the basic principles of democracy. ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal is a front to legitimise ‘Operation Lotus’ and legalise the sale and purchase of MLAs,” Atishi said.

The AAP has submitted its response to the Law Commission on the issue, hoping that it will peruse the party’s views “in an unbiased and non-partisan manner”, she said.

The Law Commission has sought the views of various stakeholders on simultaneous elections with six questions flagged by the previous panel in its draft report on the politically sensitive subject.

“Will holding simultaneous elections, by any means tinker with the democracy, basic structure of the Constitution or the federal polity of the country?” it has asked.

The suggestions given by various committees and commissions to deal with the situation of hung Parliament or assembly, where no political party has a majority to form a government, propose that the prime minister or chief minister may be appointed or selected in the same manner as a Speaker of the House or assembly is elected.

“Will it be possible? If so, will it be in consonance and conformity with the Tenth Schedule (disqualification) to the Constitution?” the commission has asked.

It has also sought to know if such an appointment or selection of the prime minister or chief minister by consensus amongst the political parties or their elected members would require an amendment to the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution.

“If so, to what extent?” the Law Commission asked.

Atishi said it will fulfil the BJP’s “dreams” of running its “Operation Lotus” in a legitimised way throughout the country if a chief minister and the prime minister are elected in such a manner.

The MLAs and MPs will then be able to elect chief ministers and the prime minister “through a direct presidential style voting” and since the anti-defection law will not be applicable in such kind of election, the BJP which is the richest party today will have a free run to bring MLAs and MPs of other party’s in its support under “Operation Lotus”, she charged.

“The proposed mechanism for selection of the prime minister and chief minister in case of hung parliament/assembly is impractical, dangerous and will lead to the institutionalised defection of legislators,” Atishi said.

With PTI inputs