In this intense debate on News7 Tamil, Advocate Priyadharshni Rahul offers a compelling legal and historical perspective on the proposed "One Nation, One Election" policy. She challenges the tendency to view constitutional reforms through a purely partisan lens, urging a return to factual historical precedents and "national spirit".
Advocate Priyadharshni Rahul points out that the concept of simultaneous elections is not a new invention; rather, it was the norm in India from 1952 until 1967. She surprises the panel by referencing a 1971 statement from former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, who had formally suggested the implementation of simultaneous elections to the Chief Election Commissioner. She also highlights reports from parliamentary standing committees, such as the one led by Congress leader Dr. Sudarsana Natchiappan, which discussed moving toward a multi-phase simultaneous election model.
A significant portion of her argument focuses on the administrative and democratic costs of perpetual election cycles. Beyond the financial implications, Advocate Priyadharshni Rahul emphasizes that roughly one crore government staff members are constantly diverted from their primary governance duties to election-related tasks, leading to a permanent state of "Model Code of Conduct" that stalls development.
She also clarifies Babasaheb Ambedkar's original constitutional vision, noting his initial stance against Article 370 and the later insertion of terms like "Secularism" and "Socialism" into the Preamble during the Emergency. Her conclusion is a call for transparency and constructive dialogue, maintaining that the Election Commission has repeatedly earned judicial trust for its reforms and that simultaneous elections are a tool for enhancing national productivity rather than stifling state federalism.
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