One nation, one election against basic structure, dissolve high-powered committee: Mallikarjun Kharge

Mallikarjun Kharge. File Pic

The Congress on Friday strongly opposed the idea of 'One Nation, One Election' in the country and said it goes against the guarantees of federalism and the basic structure of the Constitution, reported news agency PTI.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge also demanded that the idea be abandoned and the high-powered committee formed in this regard be dissolved, reported PTI.

In a letter to the secretary of the committee on one nation, one election, he requested former President Ram Nath Kovind, who heads the panel, not to allow his persona and the office of the former president to be "abused" by the central government to "subvert" the Constitution and Parliamentary democracy, reported PTI.

"The Indian National Congress is strongly opposed to the very idea of 'One Nation, One Election'. For the sake of maintaining a thriving and a robust democracy, it is imperative that the entire idea must be abandoned and the high-powered committee dissolved," Kharge said in his letter to Niten Chandra, the secretary of the committee, reported PTI.

"On behalf of the Congress party and the people of the country, I humbly request the Chairman of the high-level committee not to allow his persona and the office of the former president of India to be abused by the Union government to subvert the constitution and parliamentary democracy in this country," Kharge said in his letter, reported PTI.

His letter came in response to Chandra's letter of October 18 where he had invited suggestions for consideration of the high level committee constituted by the government for the purpose of one nation, one election, reported PTI.

"The government, parliament and ECI should work together to ensure people's mandate is respected rather than divert people's attention by talking about undemocratic ideas like simultaneous elections," Kharge said.

Earlier, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday hit out at the Modi government over the state of education in the country, and said India shall ensure justice for its students in 2024.

"More than 'Amrit Kaal', we need 'Shiksha Kaal' for India," he said in a post on X.

"In 2024, India shall ensure NYAY for our students from the Modi Government, for its report card on 'Education' is marked with gross Failure," he said citing the Annual State of Education Report (ASER).

Quoting from the report, he said "56.7 percent of 14 to 18-year-old students in rural India can't do class 3 math and 26.5 percent of this age group still cannot read a class 2 level text fluently in their regional language".

He also noted that 25 percent of youth in the 17-18 age group have discontinued education, mostly due to "lack of interest".

Kharge also posted a 35-second video along with his post that alleged that the "BJP is destroying the future of our young."

(With inputs from PTI)