New Delhi: Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Tuesday introduced The Constitution 129th Amendment Bill ‘One Nation, One Election’ in the Lok Sabha, while opposition parties opposed the Bill, terming it an assault on the basic structure of the Constitution”.
Meghwal moved the motion to introduce the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty Ninth Amendment) Bill 2024 and The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024 in the house. 269 members have voted in favour of the introduction of the bill and 198 against it.
The bill has been sent to Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to examine it.
The Law Minister also proposed amendments 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 changes seek to align assembly elections in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry with the proposed framework for simultaneous elections.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, popularly being referred to as the Bill on “one nation, one election” which will enable simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha as well as state and Union territory assemblies.
He said that ‘the Opposition’s criticism is primarily based on legislative competence’.
Meghwal said that the Opposition members criticised the bill, saying that it violates Article 360 (A). However, the Minister ssaid , Article 360 (A) in the Constitution empowers the legislature to introduce the amendments.
He pointed out the Opposition’s criticism of Article 327 and said that it empowers the Parliament to make amendments in the Vidhan Sabha or State Assembly elections.
The ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, particularly those in the INDIA bloc, arguing that it will “destroy the federal structure” of the country.
Opposing the Bill, Congress MP Manish Tewari said that ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill was an assault on basic structure doctrine of the Indian Constitution.
Tewari said in the house , “I rise to oppose the introduction of The Constitution 129th Amendment Bill 2024 and the Union Territories Laws Amendment Bill 2024. Beyond the seventh schedule of the Constitution is the basic structured doctrine and that basic structure doctrine spells out that there are certain features of the Indian Constitution which are beyond the amending power of this house also”, he added.
The Congress MP said, “One of the essential features is federalism and the structure of our democracy. Therefore the bills which have been moved by the Minister of Law and Justice absolutely assault the basic structure of the Constitution and are beyond the legislative competence of this House and therefore they need to be opposed and the introduction of those bills have to be stopped.”
Kalyan Banerjee for TMC slammed the government and said these Bills hit the basic structure of the Constitution. Article 83(2) is against proposed Article 84(5). Tenure of State legislatures cannot be subject to the tenure of Lok Sabha”.
“States are not subordinate to Parliament. These Bills take away the autonomy of the State legislatures. Proposed Article 82(5) gives enormous powers to ECI and ECI will decide whether or not to hold elections. We oppose these Bills,” he added.
Amid uproar in the Lok Sabha against the bill, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, “ONOE bill gives ‘illegal’ powers to Election Commission to advise the President.”
Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Akhilesh Yadav also opposed the Bill.
He alleged that it could pave the way for dictatorship by centralising power and undermining India’s democratic system. Yadav also slammed the proposal for allegedly threatening the federal structure of the country and diminishing the role of states.
In a post on X, the SP Chief explained what he claimed to be the undemocratic nature of the concept. “In democratic contexts, the word ‘one’ itself is undemocratic. Democracy favours plurality. The feeling of ‘one’ has no place for others. This violates social tolerance. The feeling of ‘one’ at the individual level gives birth to ego and turns power into dictatorship.”
AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi said that the bill will singlehandedly finish all the regional parties in the country, and is only being introduced to “satisfy the ego of the supreme leader.”
TDP offered its unwavering support for the One Nation One Election bill, tabled in the Lok Sabha today, saying that it will streamline the process of polls across the country.
DMK MP TR Baalu also opposed the One Nation One Election bill, asking when the government lacks 2/3rd majority, how could they table the bill in Parliament.
Eknath Shinde’s son and MP Srikanth Shinde extended support to the One Nation One Election bill, saying that the Opposition, especially Congress, for the last 6 months are trying to paint every reform as “unconstitutional.”
The Bills were drafted as per the recommendations of the high-level committee Chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which was appointed by the Law Ministry on September 2, 2023.
