Delhi CM and AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal addresses a public rally in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, Monday, Sept. 18, 2023.
Credit: PTI Photo
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Monday opposed the concept of 'One nation, One election' and said the country needs frequent polls as this allows political parties to go before electors regularly with promises which will not be the case if voting takes places just once in five years.
The Delhi Chief Minister said what the country needs is 'One nation, One education (equal education for all) and 'One nation, One treatment' (rich or poor, equal treatment for all).
“Never allow them (BJP) to implement 'one nation, one election' system in the country as it is only during polls that political parties take care of people and promise them to give everything, even the moon if they ask for it. They talk to you very sweetly (during elections),” Kejriwal said, addressing a public meeting at Rewa, the main town of Madhya Pradesh's Vindhya region.
The AAP leader said if all elections are held simultaneously, political leaders will go before voters just 6 months before polls.
“If this concept of one nation, one elections is implemented, then political party leaders will roam around London, Paris and other places abroad for four-and-a-half years and will come to you just before elections,” he said.
"The AAP believes elections should be held every month and instead of one nation, one election, one nation, one education and one nation, one treatment system should be implemented in the country," Kejriwal said.
The Centre has set up an eight-member high-level committee to examine and make recommendations on the issue of holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, municipalities and panchayats.
Children of rich as well as the poor should get the same quality of education and people should get the same type of “ilaaz” (medical treatment) irrespective of their social status, said the Delhi CM.
He criticized the BJP for efforts to change the name of India to Bharat after opposition parties formed the I.N.D.I.A alliance to take on the saffron party in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
"Tomorrow if we keep our name as Bharat, will they change it also?" he asked.
The AAP is part of the I.N.D.I.A alliance, a bloc of more than two dozen parties.
The rally was also addressed by Punjab Chief Minister and AAP leader Bhagwant Mann.