CM Eknath Shinde defends 'One nation, one election', says it will save public money

Eknath Shinde/ File Photo/PTI

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, on Friday, defending the ‘One nation, one election' proposal, said that it will save public money. Speaking to the media before the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance's meeting in Mumbai, CM Shinde said that the Opposition's INDIA alliance is made up of those who hate Prime Minister Narendra Modi and cannot decide on a leader, a PTI report stated.

CM Shinde was quoted as saying, "The Election Commission of India had to spend Rs 10,000 crore on the 2019 general elections. People's money is spent through government coffers for conducting fair and smooth elections. The entire government machinery, teachers as well as other officials, have to be roped in."

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Shinde, who leads Shiv Sena, speaking to media said, "Such high expenditure can be avoided if all elections are held simultaneously. People will benefit from it; therefore, I support the idea."

The Union government, on September 1, constituted a committee headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind to explore the feasibility of a ‘One nation, one election' system, opening the possibility of early Lok Sabha polls.

Shinde on INDIA alliance

Speaking about the Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) of the Opposition which met in Mumbai, Shinde said that it is their failure that they cannot decide on a leader or a logo to counter NDA.

INDIA Alliance was also expected to unveil the logo on September 1, however, it was postponed the leaders had previously told the press.

"The leaders of the INDIA alliance are full of hatred for Modi. It is their failure that they cannot decide on a leader or even a logo to counter the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Prime minister Modi is taking India forward, but the INDIA bloc is creating obstruction in his work," Shinde said.

He further said that INDIA alliance members were "acting like a gang" and were sticking together to protect their vested interests. CM Shinde claimed, "Be it Lalu (RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav), Nitish Kumar or (Arvind) Kejriwal, all of them are facing corruption allegations and police complaints."

He further, citing a report by Pew Research, said that 80 per cent of the public in the country supports PM Modi.