'Total eyewash': Congress' Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury declines to be on ‘One Nation One Election’ panel

One Nation One Election: Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has declined the invitation to be a part of the 'One Nation One Election' panel mandated by the law commission to recommend ways to implement simultaneous elections in the country.

The eight-member group was notified on Saturday and charged with weighing all factors if simultaneous votes are held.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury stated in a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah that he had no hesitation in declining to serve on the committee.

He stated that the terms of reference have been prepared in such a way that the conclusion is confirmed – that simultaneous elections will take place in the future.

"I have no hesitation whatsoever in declining to serve on the committee whose terms of reference have been prepared in a manner to guarantee its conclusions. It is, I am afraid, a total eyewash," the Congress leader said.

"Moreover, the sudden attempt to thrust a constitutionally suspect, pragmatically non-feasible and logistically unimplementable idea on the nation, months before the general elections, raises serious concerns about ulterior motives of the government," he added.

"Furthermore, I find that the current LOP in the Rajya Sabha has been excluded. This is a deliberate insult to the system of Parliamentary democracy. In these circumstances, I have no option but to decline your invitation," he wrote.

The government has appointed an eight-member committee to look into and make recommendations on the issue of holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, municipalities, and panchayats as soon as possible.

The law ministry has constituted a high-level committee to explore the proposal for simultaneous elections in the country, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind.

The committee will include Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, former opposition leader Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, former chairman of the 15th Finance Commission NK Singh, former Lok Sabha general Secretary Subash Kashyap, senior advocate Harish Salve, and former chief vigilance commissioner Sanjay Kothari.

Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State (Law), will attend the high-level committee meetings as a special invitee.

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