One nation one election undemocratic: CPI M)

New Delhi, Oct 1: The Central Committee of CPI (M) has strongly opposed the “One Nation, One Election”’ concept as accepted by the Union Cabinet based on the recommendations of the Ram Nath Kovind Committee.

In a statement the CPI (M) said that the steps to be taken for simultaneous elections to Parliament, state legislatures and local bodies will undermine the parliamentary democratic system and the federal structure. “It will violate the Constitutional scheme of five year terms for state legislatures and the Lok Sabha. It will bring about a Centralised and unitary system which will trample upon the rights of the states and their elected legislatures,” the party said.

The Central Committee decided to mobilise public opinion against this anti-democratic, anti-federal move.

The Central Committee demanded an immediate reduction in the retail price of petrol and diesel. Since April this year, the international price of crude oil has fallen from $ 89.40 a barrel to $ 73.59 per barrel, which is a drop of nearly 18 per cent. But, under the direction of the Modi government, the oil manufacturing companies have not reduced the domestic retail prices of petrol and diesel, the press release said.