Congress tells JPC : “One Nation, One Election” is an assault on federalism and democracy

Goa Khabar : The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee mounted a forceful opposition to the BJP Government’s proposed One Nation, One Election Bills before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) today, warning that the legislation is a calculated attempt to centralise power, weaken India’s federal structure and undermine democratic accountability.

GPCC President Girish Chodankar, along with GPCC Working President Adv. Carlos Alvares Ferreira, Working Presidents M. K. Shaikh and Sunil Kawthankar, Indian Youth Congress President Archit Naik, and Altinho Gomes, appeared before the Committee chaired by P. P. Chaudhary, MP. South Goa MP Capt. Viriato Fernandes participated in the proceedings as a Special Invitee.

Leading the Congress presentation, Girish Chodankar and Adv. Carlos Alvares Ferreira dismantled the claims made in the Statement of Objects and Reasons accompanying the Bills. Presenting a detailed clause-by-clause analysis, they exposed the far-reaching constitutional, financial and administrative consequences that the proposed legislation would have on India’s democratic system.

The Congress delegation categorically stated that India’s Constitution cannot be altered merely to suit the BJP’s electoral convenience. The proposal to synchronise elections by disturbing the tenure of elected governments directly attacks the federal character of the Constitution and undermines the mandate given by the people to State Legislatures.

The delegation strongly objected to the proposal of conducting bye-elections only for the “remainder of the term”, pointing out that such a system would burden taxpayers with repeated election expenditure while creating short-lived “stop-gap” governments that would have neither sufficient time to govern effectively nor a fair opportunity to be judged by the electorate. Every such election would also trigger the Model Code of Conduct, disrupt governance, require large-scale deployment of security personnel and election officials, and divert valuable public resources.

The GPCC also raised serious concerns over the extraordinary powers proposed to be vested in the Election Commission of India to recommend deferment of elections without clearly defined constitutional safeguards, objective parameters or statutory limitations. Such unchecked discretion, the delegation warned, could adversely affect the credibility and impartiality of India’s electoral process.

The Congress leaders also interacted with the Chairman and members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, including Anurag Thakur, reiterating the Party’s unwavering opposition to the Bills and urging the Committee to reject measures that dilute the constitutional balance between the Union and the States.

Speaking after the hearing, GPCC President Girish Chodankar said: “The BJP’s ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal is not an electoral reform but a political project aimed at concentrating power in the hands of the Central Government. Democracy cannot be sacrificed for administrative convenience or partisan political interests. The Congress Party will continue to defend the Constitution, federalism and the people’s sovereign right to hold governments accountable through regular elections.”

Adv. Carlos Alvares Ferreira said: “The Constitution is not a document that can be rewritten to suit the BJP’s election calendar. Electoral reforms must strengthen democracy, not weaken it. Any attempt to curtail the tenure of elected governments, centralise authority or compromise the rights of the States is unacceptable. The Congress Party will oppose every move that undermines India’s democratic and federal framework.”

Capt. Viriato Fernandes, MP for South Goa, said: “Our foremost responsibility is to uphold and respect the federal structure envisaged by the architects of our Constitution when it came into force. India’s strength lies in its cooperative federalism, where both the Union and the States enjoy their constitutionally defined powers. It is evident that even several allies of the BJP are uncomfortable with the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, as they recognise its implications for the autonomy of the States and the spirit of our Constitution.

The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee reaffirmed that the Indian National Congress will continue to resist every attempt to weaken constitutional institutions, erode the powers of the States, or alter the democratic architecture of the Republic for narrow political gains. The Party reiterated that the Constitution belongs to the people of India and cannot be reshaped to serve the electoral interests of any ruling party.