Hyderabad: On Thursday, the Congress criticized the idea of holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. They called it a tactic by the BJP government to distract people from the real issues facing the country.
Speaking at Gandhi Bhavan, Congress MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy raised concerns about the report by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which suggests holding these elections together. He said the government should provide more information about the report’s details. The report proposes holding Lok Sabha and Assembly elections together first, followed by Municipal and Panchayat polls in a second phase. However, Reddy pointed out that the report lacks key details, such as who was consulted and where meetings were held.
Reddy also mentioned that conducting simultaneous elections would require 18 amendments to the Constitution. He questioned how this could be done when it is currently not possible to hold simultaneous elections in just four states. “If it’s not feasible for a few states, how can it be possible for the entire country?” he asked.
The Bhongir MP accused BJP leaders of misleading the public about the simultaneous elections. He said they are using this idea as a diversion to shift people’s focus away from more important issues. Reddy also emphasized that to implement “One Nation, One Election,” the government would need a two-thirds majority in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, as well as support from at least 14 states. While the idea sounds appealing, he said, it requires many legal changes.
