Tripura LoP: BJP-RSS Using One Nation One Election to Centralize Power

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Tripura LoP
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Tripura Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury on April 22 strongly criticized the BJP-led government, accusing it of trying to centralize power through its push for the “One Nation, One Election” model. He made the comments during a press conference in Agartala, where he expressed concern over what he described as an effort to undermine democratic principles and suppress regional voices.

Chaudhury claimed that the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are using the proposed synchronized election system as a tool to monopolize political control across the country. He argued that the centralization of elections poses a grave threat to the federal structure of India, which relies on a balance between the Centre and the states.

He asserted that under the guise of administrative efficiency and cost-saving, the BJP is attempting to dismantle the autonomous nature of state governments. According to Chaudhury, the model, if implemented, would leave state-level parties and regional leaders with little scope to represent their constituencies independently.

The Leader of Opposition did not mince words when he accused the BJP of masking its real intentions behind populist slogans. He alleged that behind the rhetoric of “nation-building” lies a deliberate attempt to suppress dissent and create an environment where only one party dictates political discourse. Chaudhury warned that such an approach would ultimately marginalize not only the opposition but also the people’s right to elect their representatives freely and frequently.

He also expressed concern that aligning all elections could lead to voter fatigue and less accountability from elected leaders. In his view, the staggered nature of current elections allows voters to assess and evaluate the performance of elected officials more frequently. Chaudhury emphasized that compressing all elections into one cycle could reduce the democratic engagement of the electorate and give undue advantage to parties with greater access to national-level resources and media.

Taking aim at the RSS, Chaudhury said the organization continues to exert behind-the-scenes influence on the BJP’s major decisions. He alleged that the RSS has long desired a homogeneous political environment in India where its ideological framework dominates all spheres of public policy. He argued that “One Nation, One Election” fits directly into that long-term vision.

The CPI(M) leader also warned that the implementation of this policy could destabilize India’s complex political fabric. He said India is a diverse country with distinct linguistic, cultural, and regional identities that require independent political representation. Forcing a uniform electoral cycle, in his opinion, would amount to erasing these differences in favor of a centrally approved narrative.

Chaudhury questioned the timing of the government’s renewed interest in the idea. He claimed that the sudden push reflects the BJP’s fear of growing anti-incumbency sentiments across several states. By holding elections simultaneously, he argued, the BJP hopes to capitalize on the Prime Minister’s popularity to sway voters even in areas where its local performance has failed.

He urged the public to remain vigilant and not fall for what he called the government’s attempts to distract from pressing issues like unemployment, inflation, and weakening democratic institutions. He encouraged citizens to demand transparency in the formulation of such large-scale electoral reforms and called for open consultations with all political parties and stakeholders before any decision is made.

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