By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 12: Congress MP Vincent H Pala on Tuesday said the BJP-led NDA government has the power to implement its ‘one nation one election’ agenda and change the country’s name to Bharat.
But going ahead with these plans would attract stiff opposition and protests, he felt.
Pala, who represents the Shillong seat, said the concept of one election for the entire nation is not now but implementing it could be challenging under the current circumstances.
He argued such a move would be disadvantageous for the smaller political parties, making it difficult for them to survive.
Pala insisted Congress does not support the proposal despite some members of the Public Grievances Committee advocating for it.
On the bid to rename the country as Bharat, he said it could be a desperate move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP due to the economic challenges the country faces.
“The name India has been in use for years and Bharat may be intended to appeal to regions like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar,” Pala said, indicating that the BJP is trying to divert attention from a bad economy and the frustration among the youth because of joblessness.
“It is not going to be easy to change the name even though the BJP has made this move to help them in the Lok Sabha polls,” he added.
Pala said he is a member of the Public Grievances Committee, some of whose members were of the opinion that one nation one election could bring down the electoral expenditure.
“At Congress, we have maintained that we are not convinced about this proposal. The AICC national spokesperson will address the media on this particular issue,” he said.
On the contentious Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the Congress MP said the BJP has been preparing the ground for its implementation.
The UCC has been on the BJP’s election manifesto but opposition to it has largely come from the Hindus, Pala said.
The BJP, he pointed out, often does things suddenly like the way it had Article 370 revoked in Jammu and Kashmir. “But it is yet to come out with a draft on the UCC,” he said.
‘Pol parties won’t
decide my fate’
Speaking about the Lok Sabha elections next year, Pala said political parties will not decide his fate on whether he will be re-elected or not.
“The fate of a candidate is decided by the voters,” said Pala who will be seeking a fourth term as an MP.
He also dismissed speculations about joining the NPP.
“If I am close to Conrad K Sangma or Metbah Lyngdoh it does not mean that I would join their parties. We should not mix personal relations with political affiliation,” he said.
Pala also stated that the Congress has started it preparations for the KHADC and JHADC elections due early next year.
