Mayawatisupports‘One Nation, One Election’; Congress, CPI(M) object

Mayawati, the BSP supremo and uncrowned queen of the Dalit community, has backed the Centre’s “one nation, one election” proposal, but said its objective should be in the national and public interest. Mayawati is probably the first opposition leader to support the move after the Union Cabinet accepted the recommendations by a high-level panel headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind. The panel, which submitted the report in March ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, recommended simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies. However, the Congress and AIMIM have opposed the move, as they believe that it “destroys federalism and compromises democracy”. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said ‘one nation, one election’ is not practical and alleged that the BJP comes up with such things to divert attention from real issues when elections approach.