New Delhi, Jan. 26 -- Congress MP Karti Chidambaram on Monday criticised the central government following the announcement of the Padma Awards 2026, alleging that the selection favoured recipients from poll-bound states.

Chidambaram stated that the government had made the process of selecting Padma Awardees easier by prioritising individuals from states where elections are due. He contrasted this with the proposed "One Nation, One Election" model, suggesting that such a system would have complicated the award process.

"If there was One Nation One Election, it would be so complicated for the Government to choose Padma Award recipients! Now it's so much simpler, just choose persons from poll-bound states," he wrote.

The Centre on Sunday ...