Opposition parties have criticized the Union Cabinet's approval of simultaneous elections, arguing that it will erode federalism and is impractical. They emphasized that the government has not clarified how it would address situations where a ruling party loses the majority either in a State or at the Centre.

Congress Terms Proposal ‘Diversionary’

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge rejected the “one nation, one election” proposal, calling it a “diversionary” tactic. Speaking at a press conference in Delhi, he remarked, “It is not practical and will not work. When elections come and the BJP lacks issues, they divert attention from real problems.” He also added that State governments would likely oppose the scheme, indicating widespread discontent with the idea.

TMC and RJD Criticize the Feasibility

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O’Brien questioned the government's ability to synchronize national and state elections, citing delays in the Maharashtra election. “If they cannot hold elections in Maharashtra along with Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, how can they manage simultaneous elections across the country?” he asked. He further accused the government of delaying Maharashtra elections to accommodate the Ladki Bahin scheme’s funding schedule.

Similarly, senior Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Manoj K. Jha demanded answers to fundamental questions. He raised concerns about unclear majorities in state elections, questioning whether proxy governments would be installed until the next election.

CPI and AIMIM Leaders Warn Against Erosion of Federalism

Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary D. Raja reiterated his party’s opposition to the one election proposal, citing the constitutional framework that envisages a federal structure with the Election Commission of India responsible for multiple and frequent elections. In his post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Raja stressed that the vision of India’s founding fathers centered around a federal polity, and “one nation, one election” undermines this principle.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi echoed this sentiment, stating that the idea would harm federalism. He argued that simultaneous elections would compromise democracy and diminish State rights, which are integral to the Constitution’s basic structure. He remarked that multiple elections are only seen as a problem by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, as they aim to dominate each election campaign.

The opposition’s resistance to the one nation, one election proposal highlights the ongoing debate over the centralization of political power and the preservation of federalism within India’s democratic structure. The government has yet to respond to these criticisms or provide detailed plans on how it intends to implement the scheme.