Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut calls Union Govt's 'one nation, one election' move conspiracy to 'postpone' polls

Sanjay Raut/ File Photo

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, on Friday, said that the incumbent Union government is conspiring to delay polls across India. His comment came hours after former president Ram Nath Kovind was tasked with the responsibility of a committee to explore the feasibility of ‘One nation, one election', a PTI report stated.

Raut talking to the reporters in Mumbai said that fair elections are the need of the hour and they are not happening. He was quoted by PTI as saying, "We need fair elections which are not happening now. The 'one nation, one election' proposal is a conspiracy to postpone elections."

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Raut alleged that the BJP disrespected Ram Nath Kovind while he was the titular head of the country and is now tasking him with a committee to explore the possibility of ‘One nation, one election'.

Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP raised questions on the need for a special session of Parliament, which will be held from September 18 to 22, during Ganesh Chaturthi. "When regular sessions are on, the prime minister never attends the proceedings," he claimed.

He also claimed that the BJP-led Union government's moves are attempts to divert attention from the meeting of the I-N-D-I-A block currently underway in Mumbai. He added that the Opposition meeting is aimed at including all allies and working toward consensus on all issues.

According to the PTI report, he said that a chief coordination committee, research committee, campaign and agenda committee and manifesto committee were likely to shape up at the meet.

However, his MVA colleague and Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra assembly Vijay Wadettiwar said that the unveiling of the logo of the bloc will not happen during the ongoing meeting. He said that the discussion will surround around setting up of various committees.

The Congress leader echoed Raut's statements and said the ‘One nation, one election' move happened because of the I-N-D-I-A alliance.

I-N-D-I-A alliance meet

Presently, the third meeting of the Opposition bloc is underway at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Mumbai wherein 63 representatives from 28 political parties are in attendance. Earlier today, the participants gathered for a group photo before beginning their discussion.

‘One Nation, One Election'

BJP Chief JP Nadda met ex-president Kovind on Friday morning and handed him the task of heading the committee on ‘One nation, one election' which was the case till 1967. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, he has been a strong votary for the idea of simultaneous polls including those of the local bodies. He cited the financial burden caused by the continuous election cycle and the jolt to development work during the polling schedule to back the campaign.