Modi Already Decided On It?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to have taken a final decision to enforce ‘one nation-one election’ principle as the committee constituted to submit a report on the matter appears to be just an eyewash exercise.

The committee is supposed to study the pros and cons with regard to conducting the Assembly and Parliamentary elections simultaneously and submit a report. However, no deadline has been set for submission of the report.

With former President of India Ramnath Kovind as the chairman, the committee comprising Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdary, former Opposition leader of Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, 15th Planning Commission chairman SK Singh, former general secretary of LS Subash Kashyap, Supreme Court lawyer Harish Salve, former Central Vigilance Commissioner Sanjay Kothari, law minister Arjun Meghwal, will study the proposal. Adhir Ranjan Chowdary denied to be a part of the committee and it has to be seen who would be scouted to fill that place.

Surprisingly, none of the members are likely to oppose Modi. All the members are staunch loyalists of Modi and even if a couple of them dare to present opposing views, they would be overriden in the name of majority decision.

Modi has decided to hold Jamili elections and appointed a committee to get a nod for it. Both the public and officials know the complications in conducting the Jamili polls and the Election Commission had taken the views of the opposition members, in the past.

In fact, there is no need for the Centre to include the 15th Planning Commission chairman, former secretary general of LS, former central vigilance commissioner in the committee. In their place, opposition leaders, former chief commissioner of the Election Commission could be chosen.

Appointment of three retired government employees who had worked in top positions shows the commitment of the Centre in this connection. Hence, Modi had taken a decision to implement Jamili elections and the electorate needs to wait only for the muhurat of the polls.