Congress’s G A Mir terms ‘One Nation, One Election’ impractical

Srinagar, Dec 13: Indian National Congress General Secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir has termed the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal as impractical for a diverse and democratic country like India. He accused the BJP-led government of diverting attention from pressing issues such as unemployment and development.
Speaking in south Kashmir’s Dooru, Mir said that implementing simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha, state assemblies, panchayats and municipalities is beyond imagination in a country as vast and complex as India. “This is a huge country with a democratic framework. It seems unrealistic to hold all elections at the same time,” he said.
The MLA Dooru further alleged that such proposals are often brought to mask failures in governance. “Debates like these are introduced to distract from core responsibilities like creating employment opportunities and advancing the nation. The focus should be on solving fundamental issues,” he added.
The remarks come after the Union Cabinet approved a constitutional amendment bill to facilitate simultaneous elections, which is now set to be debated in Parliament. Mir welcomed the upcoming discussions, stressing that all political parties should voice their opinions transparently.
He also highlighted the loss of trade and employment opportunities in Jammu following the end of the Darbar Move, linking it to broader governance challenges. “Decisions like these directly impact people’s livelihoods, which should be the government’s priority,” Mir said.(KNS)