Chandigarh Congress leader P Chidambaram at the Center on Monday lashed out at the BJP-led NDA government over the issue of "one nation, one election", saying it is not possible under the current Constitution and requires the least five constitutional amendments.
Responding to a question on reports that the BJP-led NDA government would implement "one nation, one election" during its current term, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not have the numbers to place such constitutional amendments either in the Lok Sabha nor in Rajya. Sabha.
In his Independence Day speech last month, the prime minister made a strong pitch for "one nation, one election", arguing that frequent polls were creating obstacles in the country's progress.
Addressing reporters here, Chidambaram said, "'One nation, one election' is not possible under the current Constitution. It requires at least five constitutional amendments."
"Mr Modi does not have the majority to introduce such constitutional amendments in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha," the former Union minister said.
He claimed there were greater constitutional obstacles to "one nation, one election." "It is not possible. The INDIA bloc is totally opposed to 'One Nation, One Election'."
To a question about Prime Minister Modi recently alleging that the Congress wanted to end reservations, Chidambaram rejected the allegation. "Why should we abolish reservations?" he asked rhetorically.
"We are the ones who say that the 50 per cent reservation ceiling should be removed. We are the ones who asked for a caste census. We say that reservations should be according to the population. Don't believe everything, says Prime Minister . says," he told reporters.
At a rally in Kurukshetra on September 15, Prime Minister Modi lashed out at the Congress, alleging that his "royal family" intended to end reservation for Dalits and claimed that as long as he was there, he would not allow even even a fraction of the reserves provided by B R Ambedkar be looted or eliminated.
Interacting with the media here on Monday, Chidambaram was asked if the Congress would announce its chief ministerial for the October 5 Haryana assembly elections. He said normally the Congress does not announce a CM candidate before the polls.
"The practice is that elections are held, MPs meet and ask each other their preferences. Then the high command announces who will be the chief minister. I think the same practice will be followed in Haryana," he said.
The senior Congress leader lashed out at the BJP government in the state over several issues, including unemployment, agriculture and state debt.
He appealed to the people to vote for Congress in the Assembly elections and promised that his party would restore Haryana's growth rate, give a boost to development, agriculture and industry and address the problems of unemployment and inflation. .
"The BJP boasts of having a double-engine government. One engine is out of fuel and the other is completely broken down. What is the use of a double-engine government? The time has come to scrap both engines," Chidambaram said.
Responding to a question on reports that the BJP-led NDA government would implement "one nation, one election" during its current term, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not have the numbers to place such constitutional amendments either in the Lok Sabha nor in Rajya. Sabha.
In his Independence Day speech last month, the prime minister made a strong pitch for "one nation, one election", arguing that frequent polls were creating obstacles in the country's progress.
Addressing reporters here, Chidambaram said, "'One nation, one election' is not possible under the current Constitution. It requires at least five constitutional amendments."
"Mr Modi does not have the majority to introduce such constitutional amendments in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha," the former Union minister said.
He claimed there were greater constitutional obstacles to "one nation, one election." "It is not possible. The INDIA bloc is totally opposed to 'One Nation, One Election'."
To a question about Prime Minister Modi recently alleging that the Congress wanted to end reservations, Chidambaram rejected the allegation. "Why should we abolish reservations?" he asked rhetorically.
"We are the ones who say that the 50 per cent reservation ceiling should be removed. We are the ones who asked for a caste census. We say that reservations should be according to the population. Don't believe everything, says Prime Minister . says," he told reporters.
At a rally in Kurukshetra on September 15, Prime Minister Modi lashed out at the Congress, alleging that his "royal family" intended to end reservation for Dalits and claimed that as long as he was there, he would not allow even even a fraction of the reserves provided by B R Ambedkar be looted or eliminated.
Interacting with the media here on Monday, Chidambaram was asked if the Congress would announce its chief ministerial for the October 5 Haryana assembly elections. He said normally the Congress does not announce a CM candidate before the polls.
"The practice is that elections are held, MPs meet and ask each other their preferences. Then the high command announces who will be the chief minister. I think the same practice will be followed in Haryana," he said.
The senior Congress leader lashed out at the BJP government in the state over several issues, including unemployment, agriculture and state debt.
He appealed to the people to vote for Congress in the Assembly elections and promised that his party would restore Haryana's growth rate, give a boost to development, agriculture and industry and address the problems of unemployment and inflation. .
"The BJP boasts of having a double-engine government. One engine is out of fuel and the other is completely broken down. What is the use of a double-engine government? The time has come to scrap both engines," Chidambaram said.
