All Party meet updates: BJD backs 'one nation, one election'; Mamata says issue needs to be discussed with experts

'One nation, one poll' is fundamentally anti-federal, anti-democratic: CPM

CPM general-secretary Sitaram Yechury submitted a note to the meeting of the heads of all parties represented in Parliament. In the note, he said, "Apart from the technical issues involved in the holding of the simultaneous elections to the Parliament and state Assemblies, our opposition to this is based on the fact that it is fundamentally anti-federal, anti-democratic and strikes at the root of the parliamentary democratic system, as ordained in the Constitution."

He further said that the party was totally opposed to "any artificial attempt to bring about simultaneous elections which can only be done by trampling upon the existing Constitutional scheme of parliamentary democracy."

BJD supporting idea of 'one nation, one election', says Naveen Patnaik

ANI quoted Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik as saying that his party, Biju Janata Dal, is supporting the idea of 'one nation, one election'.

Mamata skips meeting, says discussion on sensitive subject in short time won't do justice

TMC chief Mamata Banerjee has written to the government saying that she will not be able to attend the meeting called to discuss the issue of 'one nation, one election' idea.

In her letter to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, she said: "Response on such a sensitive and serious subject like 'one country and one election' in such a short time would not do justice to the subject it deserves."

She said that the matter required consultations with the Constitutional experts, election experts, and all the party members. "Instead of doing the matter hurriedly, I would like to request you to kindly circulate a white paper on the subject to all political parties inviting their views by providing adequate time. If you only do so, we will be able to give concrete suggestions on this important subject," the letter further read.

ANI

'BJP pushing only Modi's agenda': Gaurav Gogoi on Congress skipping all-party meet

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi spoke to India Today about why his party was skipping the meeting chaired by Narendra Modi. "If the subject is on election reform, Congress has raised several questions in the Lok Sabha on election reforms. We've raised the issue of EVMs, MPs who are accused in criminal cases among others." He further said that while the issues raised by Congress in Parliament get ignored, the BJP only pushes for what's on the "prime minister's agenda".

Many parties will never agree to 'one nation, one election': Akhilesh Yadav 

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, who is skipping the all-party meet being chaired by Narendra Modi, said,"They should focus on the promises they have made to people... There are many parties that will never agree to decisions like 'one nation, one election.'"

Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Akhilesh Yadav: They should focus on the promises they have made to people, we hope they will work more on fulfilling those promises. Decisions like One Nation One Election, there are many parties that will never agree to it. pic.twitter.com/89FBGAxn2I

— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2019

Meanwhile, meeting of Congress-led Opposition parties cancelled

A meeting of the Opposition parties — called by Congress on Wednesday to chalk out a plan for the Monsoon Session of the Parliament — was cancelled. The party hasn't given any reason for the cancellation and has rescheduled it for the near future.

The development comes on a day when Narendra Modi is chairing an all-party meet in Parliament to discuss 'one nation, one election' issue.

Visuals from meeting in Parliament

JD(U)'s Nitish Kumar, National Conference's Farooq Abdullah, Shiromani Akali Dal's Sukhbir Singh Badal, Biju Janata Dal's Naveen Patnaik, PDP's Mehbooba Mufti, YSRCP's Jagan Mohan Reddy and among those present at the meeting.

Delhi: Inside visuals of the meeting of heads of political parties in Parliament, under chairmanship of PM Narendra Modi. JDU's Nitish Kumar, NC's Farooq Abdullah, SAD's Sukhbir Singh Badal, BJD's Naveen Patnaik, PDP's Mehbooba Mufti, YSRCP's Jagan Mohan Reddy & others present. pic.twitter.com/KYgEHRjAtv

— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2019

All Party meet begins in New Delhi

Meeting of heads of political parties begins in Parliament, under chairmanship of Prime minister Narendra Modi has started at the Parliament's Library Building. The attendees include all NDA allies and some leaders of the so-called thrid front who neither ally with the UPA nor the NDA. Among Congress allies, only national Conference Leader Farooq Abdullah was seen in attendance of the meeting. 

Would have attended meeting of it were to discuss EVMs: Mayawati

Mayawati said had the meeting been about Electronic Voting Machines, she would have attended. "The stubbornness of conducting elections through electronic voting machines instead of ballot paper is the real threat to democracy and the Constitution of the country," she claimed.

Mayawati to skip all party meet after giving Modi swearing-in, NITI Aayog meet a miss