Congress netas see sinister design behind move

Hyderabad: Telangana Congres leaders have dubbed the Centre’s proposal of simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and State Assemblies as an “ill-intentioned” move. They have felt that such a move could have deleterious effect on democracy. 

A section of the Congress leaders said the Centre has brought the proposal forward to serve its own purposes and it would not help strengthen the democracy in anyway. They, however, said they would abide by decision the party high command would take on the issue.

Speaking to The Hans India, former Union Minister S Jaipal Reddy said that if the Centre wanted to conduct simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and Assemblies, the Constitution has to be amended accordingly. He said it was not possible for the Centre to amend the Constitution because the party in power does not command two-thirds majority in Rajya Sabha. 

Jaipal Reddy said the BJP always made this proposal when it was in power. Similar proposal had been made during 2003. He recalled that he had vehemently opposed it. The move was intended to make an appeal to the middle class.

He said the BJP has been proposing simultaneous polls in the backdrop of elections to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Assemblies. It was in power in those States. He wondered how it was possible to dissolve the Punjab Assembly for which elections were held only a year ago.

“Even if the Centre makes a move to hold simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and Assemblies, it would be challenged in the court. An elected representative may question cancellation of his membership in the Assembly prematurely while he has been elected for five years,” Jaipal Reddy said.

Terming the proposal of the Centre as stupid one, he said such a move would not help any party to gain. He said there was no simultaneous election in any country where Parliamentary democracy exists. Even in US the members of the Senate would be elected for every two years.

Senior leader and former Minister Marri Shashidhar Reddy said that idea of simultaneous polls was just wishful thinking on the part of the BJP. Shashidhar Reddy said simultaneous elections were not being held in any country where Parliamentary democracy is in existence. Each elections would cost Rs 3,000 crore and such an expenditure cannot be construed as burden.

Former MP and senior leader Mallu Ravi said the proposal of simultaneous polls was against the spirit of the democracy. He said the Centre has been forcing the idea on the people.

Ravi wondered whether the BJP could advocate 10-year term for the government, instead of five years citing that such a move would promote development of the country. Instead of arresting the spiralling prices of the essential commodities and petroleum products, the Centre was trying to hoodwink the people by advancing such theories like simultaneous polls.

Former MP Ponnam Prabhakar said if the Centre wanted to go ahead with such a proposal, it should take all the parties into confidence. He said the BJP should get the permission of the NDA alliance partners.