Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on December 17.2024 introduced two significant bills in the Lok Sabha aimed at implementing the bill ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative. The bills include the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024. These proposals seek to synchronize elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, allowing them to be held simultaneously. This was the first time that the electronic voting system was used in the Lok Sabha in the new Parliament House.
Details of the Bills:
- Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024: This bill seeks to amend the Constitution to facilitate simultaneous elections by synchronizing the terms of Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
- Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024: This bill aims to align election schedules in Union Territories with those of the Lok Sabha.
Voting Outcome:
The introduction of these bills was followed by a division vote, where 269 members voted in favor while 198 opposed them. However, this outcome did not meet the required two-thirds majority of 307 votes from the total of 461 members present, raising concerns among critics about the government’s support for this initiative. Notably, more than 20 BJP MPs were absent during this crucial vote.
Legislative Process:
Despite the opposition’s strong pushback—characterizing the bills as an assault on the Constitution’s basic structure—Meghwal defended the initiative as a necessary electoral reform that would not undermine state powers or federalism. He emphasized that Article 327 of the Constitution empowers Parliament to legislate on electoral matters. Following the vote, both bills were referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for further examination and discussion, a move that aligns with previous suggestions made during parliamentary debates.
Political Reactions:
The introduction of these bills has sparked intense debate:
Opposition Response:
Opposition leaders, including Congress MP Manish Tewari, condemned the bills as unconstitutional and called for their withdrawal. They argued that simultaneous elections would undermine grassroots democracy and violate federal principles by imposing uniformity across states. The debate surrounding these bills is expected to intensify as they undergo scrutiny in the Joint Committee.
Government Defense: Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal defended the initiative, asserting that it aims to streamline electoral processes and reduce administrative burdens. He emphasized that the proposed changes would not tamper with constitutional integrity.
While the government successfully introduced the “One Nation, One Election” bills in Lok Sabha, the lack of a two-thirds majority indicates potential challenges ahead. The opposition’s strong objections highlight significant political divisions regarding this electoral reform proposal, which aims to reshape India’s electoral landscape significantly.
