‘One nation, one election’ against federal structure: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. File
| Photo Credit: ANI

With the Union Cabinet approving Bills to implement simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the country, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Thursday (December 12, 2024) said her party MPs would “oppose this draconian legislation tooth and nail in Parliament”.

Also Read | ‘One nation, one election’ not acceptable, says Mamata

“This is not a carefully considered reform; it’s an authoritarian imposition designed to undermine India’s democracy and federal structure. Our MPs will oppose this draconian legislation tooth and nail in Parliament. Bengal will NEVER bow to Delhi’s dictatorial whims,” Ms. Banerjee said in a post on social media.

She said this fight was about saving India’s democracy from the clutches of autocracy.

Ms. Banerjee had written a letter to Niten Chandra, secretary of the high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, in January expressing concerns over “one nation, one election”.

Also Read | The pros and cons of simultaneous elections | Explained

“I have basic conceptual difficulties in agreeing with you. The concept of ‘one nation, one election’ is not clear from your letter,” Ms. Banerjee had said in the letter, adding that the idea went against the federal structure of the country.

The Trinamool Congress chairperson had urged the Election Commission “to see it very sincerely; it has to be very, very rational in this case particularly”.

In the social media post on Thursday, the Chief Minister said the “Union Cabinet has bulldozed their way through with the unconstitutional and anti-federal One Nation, One Election Bill, ignoring every legitimate concern raised by experts and opposition leaders”.