Political parties in Jammu & Kashmir appear to be divided over the proposal of “one nation, one election” mooted by the Government of India for holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
At an all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister NarendraModi on Wednesday in New Delhi to discuss the proposal of holding simultaneousLok Sabha and Assembly elections, National Conference and Peoples DemocraticParty seemed divided on the matter.
Treading a cautious path over the proposal, NC presidentFarooq Abdullah called for thorough examination of the idea.
“The idea is good provided it doesn’t undermine the federalstructure of India. Consensus on this important issue is imperative and all thepolitical parties must examine the issue threadbare,” Farooq told the allparties meet.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti appeared to be averse to theproposal of simultaneous polls.
“India is defined by its diversity in culture, inlinguistics, in eating and living habits and therefore politically also thisdiversity should be allowed to thrive,” she told the meeting.
Peoples Conference said the idea needs to be deliberatedupon to examine its pros and cons. “It is a new idea and we don’t know aboutits content. There is no clarity on what do in case of premature dissolution ofAssembly,” Abdul Gani Vakil, vice-president, Peoples Conference, told GreaterKashmir.
Founder and patron of Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) Er Rashidsaid the idea is not bad and should be discussed with all stakeholders. “Thegovernment should take all stakeholders on board before arriving at anydecision on the proposal,” he said.
He, however, added that New Delhi should hold Assemblyelections at an earliest to restore democracy in the state.
CPI (M) leader Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami termed the proposalas “undemocratic” and “impracticable”.
“The reasons advanced for holding election to reduceexpenditure and to ensure better governance by holding simultaneous elections.If you fix five year simultaneous term for both Lok Sabha and State Assembly,it means there cannot be midterm election. In such a situation, Governor cannotdissolve Assembly if the government reduces to minority,” he said.
EXPERTS SAY
Noted political commentator and former vice-chancellor ofIUST Prof Siddiq Wahid said the proposal won’t have impact on the dispute overthe state of Jammu and Kashmir.
“On the face of it, it does not really impact the issuessurrounding the dispute over the State of J&K. However, it does seem topoint to a will towards a presidential system of governance, which is a systemmore vulnerable to supporting personality cults,” he said.
TERM OF J&K ASSEMBLY
While other assemblies and the Lok Sabha have a five-yearterm, J&K assembly has a six-year term.
As per original scheme, Jammu and Kashmir Assembly had afive-year term. It was extended to six years in the late seventies by amendingsection 52 of Jammu and Kashmir Constitution to establish parity with what wasdone by the 42nd constitutional Act in case of other Assemblies and Lok Sabha.
Through 42nd amendment Act, Indira Gandhi-led governmentextended the term of Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies members from five tosix years.
The amendment was reversed in 1978 by Moraji Desai-ledgovernment to restore term of other state assemblies and Lok Sabha to fiveyears. However, the Jammu and Kashmir government did not reverse the amendmentmade by it in its own constitution.
Among all political parties, the state BJP is in favour ofreducing term of Assembly from six years to five years.
In the past, CPI (M) leader Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami andPanthers Party leader Harshdev Singh had also submitted private member bills inthe Assembly to reduce term of Assembly to five years.
A senior official in J&K’s Law department, requestinganonymity, said implementation of the proposal would require amendments in boththe Constitution of India and the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Jammu and Kashmir assembly has to decide whether the Statewill be part of “one nation, one election plan” because the term of Assembly isgoverned by the J&K constitution. In case of other states, Parliament hasthe authority,” he said.