Mamata Banerjee rejects 'One Nation, One Election' idea

Banerjee said that in 1952, the first general elections were simultaneously conducted for the central and state levels.

Trinamool Congress chief and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday expressed his disagreement with the concept of 'one nation, one election' idea saying it would be totally against the basic structure of India's constitutional arrangements.

In a letter to Dr Niten Chandra, the Secretary of a high-level committee, which is led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, Banerjee said that in 1952, the first general elections were simultaneously conducted for the central and state levels.

"There was such simultaneity for some years. But the coevality has since been ruptured...," she said.

"I regret that I cannot agree with the concept of 'One Nation, One Election', as framed by you. We disagree with your formulation and proposal," she wrote. She said there are basic conceptual difficulties in agreeing with the committee, and the concept is not clear.

She further questioned the meaning of 'one nation', in the context and said, "While I understand the meaning of one nation in a historical-political-cultural sense, I do not understand the exact constitutional and structural implication of the term in the instant case. Does the Indian Constitution follow the concept of 'One Nation, One Government'? I am afraid, it does not."

She said adding that unless the basic enigma of where the concept came from is solved, it is difficult to arrive at any firm view on the catchy phrase.