On Constitution Day, Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi -- who has often stated that the Constitution is the holy book he lives by -- again pitched for 'One Nation, One Election' assserting that elections taking place every few months hinders development.
Strongmen around the world seem to have a bee in their bonnets about elections.
Take Donald Trump.
Even though the verdict in America's presidential election is resoundingly clear, Orange Top finds a new pretext each day to delay conceding that he has been beaten by Joe Biden fair and square.
Two years ago, China's rubber-stamp parliament in 2018 ratified a historic constitutional amendment abolishing the two-term limit for Xi Jinping, paving the way for his continuation in power perhaps for life, ala Mao Zedong.
In March 2020, Russia's highest court free the Russian presidency from term limits, enabling Vladmir Putin to stay in office through 2036 when he will be 84 and older than Josef Stalin when he died.
Dominic Xavier wonders if this latest Modi pitch is in tune with strongmen trends around the world, setting the course for a presidential-style poll during the Lok Sabha election.
Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
