Kerala assembly unanimously passes resolution opposing 'One Nation, One Poll'

The Kerala Legislative Assembly on Thursday, October 10, unanimously passed a resolution opposing the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, marking a significant stand against the central government’s push for simultaneous elections.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister MB Rajesh presented the resolution, as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was absent due to health reasons.

Presenting the resolution, Rajesh expressed strong opposition against the central government’s proposal, saying it violates the principles of the Indian Constitution. He argued that the move is part of the BJP and RSS agenda to centralize governance and undermine India’s federal structure.

“It is anti-democratic to treat elections for Parliament, state assemblies, and local self-government bodies merely as an expense. This is an attempt to erode India’s rich cultural, social, and political diversity,” Rajesh said. He emphasized that instead of imposing such drastic changes, simpler measures to reduce election costs could be implemented. “Destroying the federal



system enshrined in the Constitution is tantamount to denying the rights of state and local governments, and it also challenges the fundamental rights of the people,” he added.

Rajesh further pointed out that the proposal is an attack on the constitutional authority of state governments to hold elections for local self-government institutions, undermining their autonomy.

The Opposition, led by Mannarkad MLA N Samsudheen, expressed full support for the resolution. The United Democratic Front MLA echoed the concerns about the proposal’s impact on the federal structure, calling it a threat to state governance and democratic processes.

During the debate, the Opposition also suggested certain amendments to the resolution, some of which were accepted by the ruling party. Despite these modifications, the core message remained unchanged: the Kerala Assembly stands firmly against the central government's push for simultaneous elections.

The resolution was passed unanimously, with both the ruling and opposition parties in agreement.