Chennai: The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), which broke its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP) final 12 months, has adopted a cautious stance on the Narendra Modi authorities’s proposed ‘One Nation, One Election’ coverage.
Whereas supporting the thought in precept, the get together has expressed considerations over points, such because the establishing of Digital Voting Machines (EVMs) and ballot bills.
The Edappadi Ok. Palaniswami (EPS)-led AIADMK had known as off its alliance with the BJP in September claiming that BJP members have been making remarks in opposition to leaders it holds in excessive reverence. The get together had allied with the BJP for the 2019 Lok Sabha and the 2021 state elections.
The AIADMK’s place on the ‘One Nation, One Election’ coverage contrasts with that of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led by M.Ok Stalin in Tamil Nadu, which Wednesday handed a decision within the meeting opposing the proposal.
The DMK authorities additionally opposed any delimitation train, which goals to repair constituencies based mostly on the inhabitants. The resolutions have been handed by a voice vote.
Whereas passing the decision, Stalin mentioned the coverage was “impractical” and in opposition to the Structure. Different events, together with the Congress, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), supported its resolutions.
The ‘One Nation, One Election’ coverage envisages holding parliamentary and state meeting polls concurrently. A high-level committee headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind has been constituted to look at the feasibility of implementing the coverage.
Tamil Nadu has opposed the delimitation train, stating that its curiosity in household planning and growth was ensuing within the lack of seats.
Nevertheless, the AIADMK MLAs supported the decision on delimitation within the meeting Wednesday. The AIADMK added that it, prima facie, helps the proposal for simultaneous elections as effectively, however wants extra readability on its execution. The opposition get together mentioned it has submitted 10 factors to the Kovind committee, looking for solutions on numerous features of the coverage.
In September final 12 months, nevertheless, the get together welcomed the proposed coverage. “Simultaneous elections will save time, colossal cost and give longer uninterrupted period of governance to implement policies effectively for any elected government both federal and state,” EPS posted on social media platform ‘X’ (previously Twitter) in September.
AIADMK helps One Nation One Election coverage ,
AIADMK strongly advocates Elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies be held concurrently
As it is going to escalate the pace of our nation’s growth and keep away from political instability.Simultaneous elections will save the…
— Edappadi Ok Palaniswami (@EPSTamilNadu) September 1, 2023
In the meantime, chatting with ThePrint Thursday, AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan mentioned that the get together’s stand has not modified because it first backed the coverage six months in the past.
“We have given 10 points to the Ram Nath Kovind committee. For the interest of the state, for the interest of the people, you need clarity. And yes, it’s the commission’s responsibility to give clarity on the same. We welcome the idea. But we need more clarity on the implementation. To see the merits and demerits of it,” mentioned Sathyan.
He added that Stalin was utilizing the difficulty forward of the election to create a story in favour of his get together.
On the meeting Wednesday, AIADMK MLA Thalavai Sundaram mentioned, whereas the get together believed that the expenditure incurred by the federal government could be decreased as soon as simultaneous elections have been held, the get together doesn’t help the implementation of the coverage instantly and would help it solely after its 10 calls for have been met.
Expelled AIADMK chief O. Panneerselvam (OPS) Friday accused the get together of becoming a member of palms with the ruling DMK for “selfish reasons”. Recalling that EPS was earlier supporting the coverage, OPS posted on ‘X’ that the get together, by looking for extra readability now, has undermined AIADMK’s identification.
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The ten calls for
Elaborating on the get together’s 10 calls for, AIADMK senior chief and former minister D. Jayakumar advised ThePrint Friday that the get together has sought readability on establishing of EVMs for the simultaneous elections and the ballot bills.
He mentioned they’ve additionally demanded that the native physique elections ought to be held individually from the simultaneous polls and there shouldn’t be any discount in SC/ST seats.
Jayakumar added that the get together has additionally requested for readability on delimitation within the calls for and has raised that there shouldn’t be any discount in seats for Tamil Nadu. He, nevertheless, refused to expose additional particulars on the ten calls for.
“It will take 10 years to get clarity on these and we will clarify our stand then,” Jayakumar mentioned, including that the get together raised the calls for when the central authorities proposed the coverage itself and there was no change in its place on the matter.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
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