Heads of eight leading political parties of the country today skipped Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting in the national capital to discuss “One Nation One Election and the NITI Ayog’s proposal for developing “aspirational districts”. PM Modi had called leaders of all political parties to discuss these issues.
The Congress, Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party head Akhilesh Yadav, Bahujan Samajwadi Party chief Mayawati, and DMK chief MK Stalin decided to not attend the meeting.
Aam Admi Party chief and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu and Telengana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao however, sent representatives.
The meeting is to discuss the concept of “One Nation, One Election” which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) feels, will save time and money. However, the Opposition parties have not said anything in support of the idea, as most of them feel that it is against the federal structure and its principles.
However, the BJP has initiated a dialogue in the matter as it requires amendment to the Constitution and therefore a two-thirds majority in both houses of the Parliament.
Mamata Banerjee has said that this is a serious matter and requires the opinion of experts. She has written to the Centre saying that political parties ought to be given time to think over the issue and offer their suggestions, and the government should publish a white paper as well.
Meanwhile, Mayawati has said that the government should be discussing the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) instead – as the people have lost their faith in the system and wanted to move to ballot papers.
“The way the elections are conducted through EVMs despite difference of opinion on part of the Opposition indicates that there is a threat to the democracy in the country,” she said. Banerjee too has been arguing on this issue for long.
On the “aspirational districts” issue proposed by the NITI Ayog, Mamata Banerjee has said that it would not fulfil the conditions of a balanced and uniform development for all districts. The concept is to increase socio-economic conditions of 117 districts in 28 states ahead of the others.
The meeting has also been called to discuss 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi this year and celebration of India’s 75th Independence Day in 2022.
