'One Nation, One Election' bills introduced in Lok Sabha, opposition calls it 'unconstitutional'

The opposition sought a division of votes after the law minister 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 Lok Sabha.

According to reports, 269 members voted in favour of it. 198 voted against it.

The bills could be referred to a joint committee of the two Houses, Hindustan Times reported.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said his party will comprehensively oppose the bill.

"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 believe it's unconstitutional," Ramesh told ANI news agency.

Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee said the introduction of the bills is an assault on the foundation of demoncracy.

"The BJP’s brazen attempt to introduce a CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BILL today, WHILE THE CONSTITUTION DEBATE IS STILL UNDERWAY in Parliament, is nothing short of an unashamed attack on democracy. The One Nation One Election bill seeks to ROB THE PEOPLE OF THEIR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT to vote regularly — A right that holds governments accountable and prevents unchecked power. This is not just a bill rather it is a direct assault on the very foundation of our democracy built through the sacrifices of our founding fathers. Bengal will not sit silent. We will fight tooth and nail to protect the soul of India and crush this anti-democratic agenda," Banerjee said.

The BJP advanced its agenda for simultaneous elections on Thursday when the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a constitutional amendment bill aimed at implementing this concept.

Two draft legislations received the Cabinet’s nod: the constitutional amendment bill and a simpler bill to amend laws governing three Union territories with legislative assemblies to align them with the proposed changes.

The constitutional amendment bill is aimed at synchronising Lok Sabha and state legislative assembly elections.

Although a high-level committee, headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind, had recommended in its 18,626-page report that municipal and panchayat elections be held parallelly national and state elections in phases, the Cabinet has opted to exclude, "as of now," the framework for local body elections.

Several INDIA bloc parties, including the Congress and AAP, have opposed the decision, arguing that it could disproportionately benefit the ruling party.