Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Tuesday tabled The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024. The Bill is also called the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill. The purpose of the Bill is to allow for simultaneous elections to state and Union Territory assemblies as well as the Lok Sabha.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Union Cabinet approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill last week.
Opposition Says NO!
Congress MP Manish Tewari argued against the bill’s introduction, stating that “the basic structure doctrine, which outlines specific provisions of the Indian Constitution that even the amending powers of this House cannot alter, lies beyond the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.”
“Federalism and our democratic system’s structure are two of these basic features. As a result, the Union Law Minister’s bills directly challenge the fundamental framework of the Constitution,” he said.
Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav criticised the Bills, calling them an effort by the BJP to impose “dictatorship” on the nation.
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said during the address that the ONOE bills are being tabled to satisfy a gentleman’s want and ambition rather than to implement electoral reforms.
Shiv Sena MP Anil Desai and IUML leader ET Mohammed Basheer were against the ONOE bills’ introduction.
The government should send the ONOE bills to a Joint Parliamentary Committee, DMK’s TR Baalu recommended.
Even before it was introduced in the House, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, two INDIA bloc parties, opposed the bill.
“The Congress party rejects this bill,” said Congress MP Manickam Tagore earlier today in response to the ONOE bill. “We will oppose it at the introduction stage and call for it to be referred to a parliamentary committee. This measure contradicts India’s federal structure.”
“Centre is ready to refer to JPC”
Following the Bill’s introduction, the Union Law Minister requested the speaker of the Lok Sabha to send it to a Joint Committee of Parliament for additional deliberation. According to reports, before the Bill is approved by both houses of Parliament and becomes law, the Centre wants to create consensus around it.
In the midst of debate, Home Minister Amit Shah said the Joint Parliamentary Committee should be tasked with debating the ‘One Nation. One Election’ bill.
One of the main pledges of the BJP’s manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was “One Nation, One Election.” In August this year, PM Modi called on all political parties to back it up, highlighting the obstacles to India’s development that regular elections provide.
The ‘One Nation, One Election’ concept was endorsed by the Union Cabinet in September, following the findings of a high-level committee that looked into the concept and was led by former President Ram Nath Kovind.
The report described the necessary procedures for its execution and was submitted in March of this year, ahead of the general elections.
Also Read: ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill Likely To Be Introduced In LS Tomorrow
