‘One nation, one election’ bill tabled in Lok Sabha; opposition calls it ‘anti- Constitutional’ | India News

NEW DELHI: Law minister Arjun Meghwal on Tuesday introduced two bills aimed at conducting simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, as part of the ‘one nation, one election’ initiative, which sparked strong opposition protests.
The bills, however, failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the lower house, receiving 269 votes in favour and 198 against.
Opposition parties criticised the bills as an attack on federalism, while the government asserted that the bill was in line with Constitution.
“ONOE bills in line with Constitution, do not assault basic structure doctrine. Objections to ONOE bills political in nature,” stated the law minister.
The opposition demanded immediate withdrawal of the bills, labelling them as an assault on the Constitution and an attempt to ‘kill democracy and bring authoritarianism and dictatorship.’
Read also: ‘One nation, one election’ gets Cabinet nod: How Kovind panel proposes to synchronise Lok Sabha and assembly elections
AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi opposed the legislation, stating it would eliminate regional parties.
“This is aimed at maximising political gains to a certain party and will pave the way for a presidential form of government,” he remarked, criticising the BJP-led Centre.
Congress MP Manish Tewari argued against the bills, stating, “Beyond the seventh schedule of the Constitution is the basic structure doctrine, which spells out that there are certain features of the Constitution beyond the amending power of the House. The essential features are federalism and the structure of our democracy.”
“Therefore, the bills moved by the Minister of Law and Justice are an absolute assault on the basic structure of the Constitution and are beyond the legislative competence of the House,” he said.
Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav criticised BJP for introducing legislation that he believed undermined constitutional principles.
“I am standing to oppose the 129th Amendment Act of the Constitution. 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,” Yadav stated.
“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. Even in this House, there is no one more learned. I have no hesitation in saying this,” he added.
Meanwhile, Union home minister Amit Shah revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had suggested sending the bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for thorough examination.
“When the One Nation, One Election Bill was taken up in the cabinet for approval, PM Modi had said that it should be sent to the JPC for detailed discussion. If the law minister is willing to send the bill to JPC, the discussion on its introduction can end,” Shah said.