Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Tuesday introduced two bills, including a constitutional amendment, to implement ‘One Nation, One Election,’ (ONOE) a proposal seeking the simultaneous conduct of Lok Sabha and state assembly polls.This paves the way for the BJP’s push for sweeping electoral reform—a core pledge since it came to power in 2014. However, the proposed legislation received vociferous backlash from Opposition parties, who termed it anti-democratic and a violation of the basic structure of the constitution.VIDEO | Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal (@arjunrammeghwal) moves 'one nation, one election' bills for introduction in Lok Sabha.#OneNationOneElectionBill(Source: Third Party)(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/vgPvelEwLu— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 17, 2024
Objecting to the proposed legislation, Congress MP Manish Tewari called the ONOE bills an assault on the basic structure doctrine of the constitution. He urged the Union government to withdraw the bills, asserting that the introduction and consideration of ONOE were beyond the legislative competence of the House.Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav also opposed the bills, terming them an attempt by the BJP to “bring in dictatorship” in the country.Delivering his party’s objection, Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee launched a scathing attack on PM Narendra Modi and termed the bills not as election reform, but “a fulfilment of one gentleman’s desire and dream.”Notably, the path to passing these legislations is fraught with challenges.While the bill on Union Territories will require a simple majority in both Houses, the constitutional amendment bill will need support from two-thirds of the members in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to pass.Although BJP allies such as the TDP, Janata Dal (United), and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), all represented in the Union Cabinet, support the proposal, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will need backing from members of the opposition INDIA alliance and fence-sitters, including the BRS, BJD and YSRCP.The NDA’s current strength in the Lok Sabha stands at around 293, short of the two-thirds majority mark of 361, with 542 members and one vacancy. The INDIA alliance holds support from around 235 MPs.In the Rajya Sabha, the ruling alliance has approximately 122 members, a number expected to rise once the ongoing process to fill vacancies is completed. With a sanctioned strength of 243, a two-thirds majority in the Upper House would require 162 votes.Cabinet clears ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill, but political and logistical hurdles remainSimultaneous polls not new to India, says govtPrior to the introduction of ONOE bills, the goverment released an exlpainer claiming that the concept is not new to the country.Following the adoption of the Constitution, elections to the Lok Sabha and all state assemblies were conducted simultaneously from 1951 to 1967, it noted.The government said the first general elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies were held together in 1951-52, a practice that continued for three subsequent general elections in 1957, 1962, and 1967.”However, this cycle of synchronised elections was disrupted in 1968 and 1969 due to the premature dissolution of some State Legislative Assemblies,” an official explainer said.The Fourth Lok Sabha was also dissolved prematurely in 1970, with fresh elections held in 1971.Unlike the first, second, and third Lok Sabha, which completed their full five-year terms, the fifth Lok Sabha’s term was extended until 1977 under Article 352 because of the declaration of Emergency.Since then, only a few Lok Sabha terms have lasted the full five years, such as the eighth, 10th, 14th and 15th.Others, including the sixth, seventh, ninth, 11th, 12th and 13th, were dissolved early.State assemblies have faced similar disruptions over the years.Premature dissolutions and term extensions have become a “recurring challenge”, the government said.”These developments have firmly disrupted the cycle of simultaneous elections, leading to the current pattern of staggered electoral schedules across the country,” it observed.Citing a report of the high-level committee on ‘one nation, one election’, the explainer said simultaneous polls promote consistency in governance.”Due to the ongoing cycle of elections in various parts of the country, political parties, their leaders, legislators, and both state and Central governments often focus their efforts on preparing for upcoming elections rather than prioritising governance,” it said, citing the ‘rationale’ for holding simultaneous polls as recommended by the panel headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind.The adoption of simultaneous elections would refocus the government’s attention towards developmental activities and the implementation of policies aimed at promoting the welfare of the masses, it added.Key recommendations in ‘One Nation One Election’ report ‘flawed’: Ex-CEC Quraishi
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