Congress’ Moily sceptical of BJP’s One Nation One Election proposal

Mangaluru: Former Union minister M Veerappa Moily expressed concerns over the BJP’s plans to implement One Nation One Election, stating that delaying the election process may provide opportunities for manipulation. He informed reporters here on Sunday that while the entire process for Lok Sabha elections concluded within 20 days in 2004 and 2009, the 2024 poll process has a gap of about 60 days despite advancements in communication technologies. Meanwhile, the BJP govt proposes implementing One Nation One Election, which, at the current pace, may take a year for the country to conduct polls ranging from gram panchayat to Lok Sabha under the proposed plan. Moily suggested that either the Election Commission of India (ECI) should clarify or the Prime Minister should seek clarification from the ECI.

“We need to understand the malicious intent behind the proposal of One Nation One Election. The BJP believes that voters will vote for the party from the grassroots level to the Parliament, if it is introduced. The BJP is attempting to undermine the spirit of the Constitution as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is desperate about losing the election,” Moily stated. Quoting an assessment, Moily mentioned that the NDA will win only 150 to 200 seats in the Lok Sabha election this year. “They cannot form the govt at the Centre,” he added.Highlighting the public’s frustration over unemployment, the rise in the price of essential commodities, and other significant issues, Moily said, “This volcano will erupt in the form of votes against the NDA.” Regarding the BJP-JD(S) coalition, Moily remarked that the Congress could secure only one seat after aligning with HD Deve Gowda in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. “Now, the BJP has formed an alliance with the JD(S) only to lose the election,” he added.Referring to the BJP’s claims of winning 400 seats, Moily asserted that even the ‘India Shining’ campaign of AB Vajpayee could not sway voters in 2004. “Modi is nothing compared to a statesman like Vajpayee,” he commented. Moily also pointed out the rise in unemployment rate in the country, which increased from 4.5% in 2014 to 8%. He noted that about 40% of graduates are jobless, the promise of doubling the income of farmers remains unfulfilled, and farmers are currently distressed. Additionally, he mentioned the drastic increase in atrocities against women and the underfunding of the Nirbhaya Fund established by the UPA govt.“As the chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on finance, I had submitted a report on Rs 35,000 crore of black money stashed in foreign banks. However, Modi failed to bring back a single penny to the country,” Moily alleged.
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