"Democracy Being Threatened": Ashok Gehlot On Centre's New Poll Plan

At the launch of NDTV's new channel, NDTV Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the Centre's push for 'one nation, one election' without developing a consensus is an example of democracy being in danger in India, and no one knows the direction that the country is headed in.

In an exclusive conversation with NDTV's Editor-In-Chief Sanjay Pugalia, Mr Gehlot was asked about his opinion on holding simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies across the country. 

"I have been saying this for a long time. Whatever is happening today, no one knows the direction that the country is heading in. Democracy is in danger and the Constitution is being ripped to shreds. This (simultaneous polls) is an example of this. The Centre could have done this by taking opposition parties along and holding discussions with them," the chief minister said in Hindi. 

Referring to former President Ram Nath Kovind heading the committee to examine the issue, the Congress leader said, "The President's post is a prestigious one. I have never heard of a former President heading a committee. The committee will be criticised as well as praised, and you have needlessly involved the former President in this."

Mr Gehlot said the Centre could have taken the opposition into confidence and the fact that it did not do so makes people doubt its intentions. He said the government was well within its rights to call the special Parliament session from September 18-22, but it has still not told the nation why it has been called. "These things are not good in a democracy," he said.