The opposition on Tuesday rejected the ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill introduced in the Lok Sabha. According to reports, after the introduction of the bill, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will request Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to send the bill to a joint committee for detailed deliberations.
The bill was approved by the Union Cabinet on December 12 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it an important step for India’s democracy. In fact, in September, the Union Cabinet had accepted the recommendations of the high-level committee constituted under the chairmanship of former President Ramnath Kovind on holding simultaneous elections. The committee had proposed holding simultaneous elections in two phases, in which Lok Sabha and Assembly elections would be held first and then local body elections would be held within 100 days.
Effort to bring a new constitution: Congress
Congress said it believes the bill is “unconstitutional” and “against the basic structure” of the Constitution. The party also alleged that even though Bharatiya Janata Party’s NDA allies TDP and JD(U) “may not openly oppose it, they do not want this bill.” Speaking to ANI, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said the bill aims to “strangle democracy and accountability” in the country.
#WATCH Delhi: On One Nation One Election Bill, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh says, “The Congress party firmly, totally, comprehensively reject the one nation, one election bill. We will oppose the introduction. We will demand its reference to a Joint Parliamentary Committee. We… pic.twitter.com/VrwyQDvAV5
— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2024
He said, “We believe that this is against the basic structure and its aim is to strangle democracy and accountability in this country. Mallikarjun Kharge had written a letter to former President Ramnath Kovind on January 17 asking whether the Congress Party is one nation, one Why are you objecting to the idea of elections?” He said, “He rejected this Constitution on 30 November 1949 saying that it was not inspired by the values of Manusmriti etc.
Step towards dictatorship: SP
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also criticized the bill, calling it “undemocratic” and saying it would prove “fatal for true democracy”. Sharing a list of concerns against the bill, the SP chief said that if the bill is passed, democracy will be replaced by “autocracy” and the country will “move towards dictatorship”.
Appeal to dear citizens of the country and state, journalists and all true advocates of true democracy.
In the context of ‘One Country-One Election’, I am sharing some important things with you for public awareness. Read all these points carefully because they have a deep connection with our country, state, society, family and every…
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) December 17, 2024
He said, “These people will also take Rajya Sabha under their control and will give a new slogan of ‘one country-one assembly’ to bring their dictatorship. Whereas the truth is that in our country, the continuity of ‘Rajya Sabha’ by considering the state as the core is constitutional. There is a provision that the Lok Sabha is for a period of five years.
The SP chief said, “If BJP thinks that ‘one nation, one election’ is a good thing, then why delay it, dissolve the central and state governments and hold elections immediately. In fact, this is also like ‘Nari Shakti Vandan’. is the slogan.”
Wrong, against the Constitution: Shiv Sena (UBT)
Shiv Sena’s (UBT) Priyanka Chaturvedi also criticized the bill and alleged that it “tampered with the electoral process.” He said it was “unfortunate” that “the Constitution is being attacked in this manner.”
“It is very unfortunate to attack the Constitution in this way. Tampering with the election process, working against federalism is a way of centralizing power by the central government,” he told news agency ANI.
Why is this bill special?
This bill proposes to hold elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies simultaneously. Along with this, Arjun Meghwal may also introduce another bill to amend the Union Territory Act, 1963, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019. This bill talks about the changes necessary to conduct simultaneous elections for Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry assemblies.