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

One Nation One Election constitutionally suspect, panel's terms of reference indicate conclusion is certain, Adhir Ranjan wrote declining to be a member.

Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has declined to be a member of the One Nation One Election panel which as mandated by the law commission will recommend ways to implement simultaneous elections in the country. The eight-member committee was notified on Saturday and was given the task to weigh every aspect if simultaneous polls are held.

Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has refused to be on the panel which will examine the proposal of One Nation One Election.

In a letter addressed to Union home minister Amit Shah, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said he has no hesitation in declining to serve on the committee. He said the terms of reference have been prepared in such a manner that the conclusion is confirmed -- that is simultaneous elections will happen going forward. "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," Adhir wrote.

"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," Adhir wrote,

"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," the Congress leader wrote.

Under the chairmanship of former president Ram Nath Kovind, the law ministry formed a high-level committee to study the proposal of simultaneous elections in the country. Union home minister Amit Shah, Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, former leader of opposition Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, former chairman of 15th Finance Commission NK Singh, former Lok Sabha general secretary Subash Kashyap, senior advocate Harish Salve, former chief vigilance commissioner Sanjay Kothari will be members of the committee. Minister of state (law) Arjun Ram Meghwal will attend the meetings of the high-level committee as a special invitee.

As notified, the committee will examine and make recommendations for holding simultaneous elections to the House of the People (Lok Sabha), State Legislative Assemblies, Municipalities and Panchayats, keeping in view the existing framework under the Constitution of India and other statutory provisions, and for that purpose, examine and recommend specific amendments to the Constitution, the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the rules made thereunder and any other law or rules which would require amendments for the purpose of holding simultaneous elections.