HYDERABAD: The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen has opposed holding simultaneous elections to Parliament and state assemblies as proposed by the Law Commission of India.
In his 10-page submission, MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi said: “Constitutional principles of collective responsibility and legislative oversight of the executive cannot be sacrificed at the altar of efficiency and stability. It is not possible to privilege convenience over constitutional guarantees.”
The party termed the proposal as a “solution in search of a problem.”
“It must be noted that no attempts have been made to analyse if there is a need for simultaneous elections. Instead, certain logistical difficulties — such as the expenditure involved in holding elections — are framed as sufficient enough reasons to wholesale amend the basic structure of the Constitution.”
Mr Owaisi directed the commission’s attention to a report filed by the parliamentary standing committee on law and justice on the issue.
“It has been repeatedly been insisted that due to the consistent operation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) there is a ‘policy paralysis’ that prevents the government from making policies. It must be pointed out that, first, the MCC does not prevent any policy making that is developmental, or routine in nature. Furthermore, it is the insistence of national party leaders to participate and campaign in various state and local elections that causes policy paralysis and not the MCC,” he said.
Mr Owaisi said that simultaneous polls would privilege national parties and impair regional parties from raising local issues. “The two principles of parliamentary control and tenured elections are essential attributes of parliamentary democracy, which is a basic feature of the Constitution,” he said.
Owaisi dares PM to contest Hyderabad
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asadudd-in Owaisi has challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah to contest the election from Hyderabad. He also issued a challenge to the Congress.
“Even if both the BJP and the Congress join hands, they will not be able to defeat the AIMIM. I challenge anyone to fight the AIMIM from Hyderabad. I challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah and the Congress to contest from Hyderabad parliamentary seat,” said Mr Owaisi while addressing a public meeting at Santoshnagar in Old City.
He lashed out at the PM and his party over issues, including surgical strikes, mob lynching, rising prices of fuels and the upcoming elections.
