‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill Introduced in the Lok Sabha; 269 Members Vote in Favor, 198 Against

The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 were formally introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday after members voted on their presentation. These bills propose the idea of "One Nation, One Election," aiming for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. After the introduction, the bills were sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed discussions.

During the debate, opposition members demanded a vote on the introduction of the bills. The motion to introduce the legislation was moved by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, who later agreed to send the bills to a JPC, as suggested by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Following the vote, 269 members supported the introduction, while 198 members opposed it. Meghwal officially introduced the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 on the concept of "One Nation, One Election," and stated that the bills would be forwarded to the JPC as per the Prime Minister's earlier suggestion.

The bills also propose amendments to several key laws. These include changes to the Government of Union Territories Act (1963), the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act (1991), and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act (2019). These amendments aim to align the election timelines in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry with the proposed simultaneous elections.

Opposition parties, however, strongly opposed the bills. Congress MP Manish Tewari criticized the move, arguing that the proposed amendments would undermine the Constitution's basic structure. Similarly, DMK MP TR Baalu voiced opposition, describing the bill as "anti-federal." "The electors have the right to elect the government for five years, and this right cannot be curtailed with simultaneous elections,” said Balu.

Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav questioned the rationale behind the bill. "I cannot understand how, just two days ago, no stone was left unturned to uphold the glorious tradition of saving the Constitution. Within two days, this Constitution Amendment Bill has been brought to undermine the basic spirit and structure of the Constitution," he said. He further added, "I agree with Manish Tewari, and on behalf of my party and my leader Akhilesh Yadav, I have no hesitation in saying that there was no one more learned than the makers of our Constitution at that time."

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee also opposed the bills, arguing that they would compromise the federal structure. He stated, "This proposed bill hits the basic structure of the Constitution itself and if any bill affects the basic structure of the Constitution, it is ultra vires. We must remember that the state government and the state legislative assembly are not subordinate to the central government or to Parliament." Banerjee further argued that the autonomy of state assemblies would be undermined, pointing out that Parliament and state assemblies each have their own legislative powers under the Constitution. "By this process, the autonomy of the state legislative assembly is being taken away," he concluded.