Prashant Kishor supports 'One nation, one election' if done with 'good intentions'
New Delhi/IBNS: Former poll strategist Prashant Kishor has offered conditional support to the "one nation, one election" proposal if the same is "in the interest of the country and done with correct intentions".
Kishor, who has led several parties, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party to wins in major elections, said the benefits of a single poll may see reduced costs and fatigue to voters.
He also said "overnight changes" - seen by many as a swipe at the BJP over speculation it could advance the 2024 general election to coincide with state polls later this year - could lead to trouble.
"If done with correct intentions, and there (is) a transition phase of four to five years, then it is in the interest of the country. This was once in effect for 17-18 years," Kishor said in a video posted on X by news agency ANI.
"In a country as large as India, around 25 per cent votes every year. So the people running the government remain busy in this circle of elections. If this is limited to one or two times, it will be better. This will cut down expenses and people will take a decision only once..."
"(But) if you attempt an overnight transition, there will be issues. The government is perhaps bringing a bill. Let it come. If the government has good intentions, it should happen and it will be good for the country," Kishor said.
#WATCH | On 'One Nation, One Election', Prashant Kishor says, "If this is done with the correct intentions and there be a transition phase of 4-5 years, then it is in the interest of the country. This was once in effect in the country for 17-18 years. Secondly, in a country as… pic.twitter.com/beTAZqf0Gl
— ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2023
Kishor's tentative support comes as some opposition parties have criticised the BJP on this issue. On Sunday Congress MP Rahul Gandhi called the idea an attack on the Union of India.
The Congress' Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has declined to be part of a committee, which excludes party boss Mallikarjun Kharge and includes ex-leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.
In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, also part of the committee, he called it "a deliberate insult to parliamentary democracy".
The government on Saturday named Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad among members to the High Level Committee (HLC) to examine and make recommendations for holding simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha, state assemblies, municipalities, and panchayats.
