The Constitutional Amendment Bill related to the One Nation, One Election proposal was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday following a historic first-ever e-voting in Parliament. The motion to introduce the bill was passed with a majority vote, with 269 votes in favor and 198 votes against.
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal laid out two significant bills regarding the initiative— a Constitutional Amendment Bill and an Ordinary Bill. The introduction of the bills sparked a heated debate among lawmakers. Several opposition parties, including Congress, strongly opposed the bills, demanding that they be withdrawn.
Manish Tewari, senior Congress leader and former Union Minister, was among the fiercest critics of the bill. He argued that the proposal violated the Constitution, particularly challenging the changes it sought to make to Schedule 7. Tewari called the bill an “assault on the Constitution”, claiming it undermined the country’s federal structure and the basic principles enshrined in the Constitution. He demanded the immediate withdrawal of the bill.
In response to Tewari’s remarks, several other opposition leaders echoed similar objections. Dharmendra Yadav of the Samajwadi Party (SP), Kalyan Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), and TR Balu of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) also voiced their strong opposition to the bill. Asaduddin Owaisi, the leader of AIMIM, criticized the bill as being against the spirit of India’s federal structure and democratic values.
Despite the opposition’s criticism, the government defended the bill, stating that simultaneous elections would make the electoral process more efficient, reduce costs, and promote better governance. The introduction of the One Nation, One Election Bill is seen as a significant step toward implementing simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, a proposal that has been a subject of debate in the country for years.
The bill has now been referred to a parliamentary committee for detailed examination and further consultation before it proceeds through the legislative process. The outcome of the discussions and potential amendments will determine the future of this controversial initiative.
