The Centre is set to introduce the ‘One Nation, One Election’ (ONOP) Bill in the Lok Sabha today at noon, marking a significant step towards the proposal to hold simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies across India.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued a three-line whip to all its MPs, urging them to be present in the House during the introduction of the bill. The agenda for today’s Lok Sabha session includes the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, which will pave the way for simultaneous elections.
Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal is expected to introduce the bill, which aims to bring about synchronized elections across the country. Along with the One Nation, One Election Bill, Meghwal is also likely to present legislation aimed at aligning elections in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry with the nationwide simultaneous elections.
The Union Cabinet had approved the bill earlier this month, following the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind. The committee proposed the implementation of simultaneous elections in two phases: first, holding Lok Sabha and state assembly elections together, and later, conducting local body elections (panchayats and municipalities) within 100 days of the general elections. A common electoral roll for all elections was also recommended.
After the bill’s introduction, Arjun Meghwal is expected to seek approval from the Lok Sabha Speaker to refer the bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for wider consultations. The JPC will be constituted on a pro-rata basis, depending on the strength of MPs from various parties.
While the BJP and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have expressed support for the bill, several opposition parties, including Congress, Trinamool Congress, and DMK, have voiced strong opposition. Congress leader Digvijaya Singh raised concerns over the practicality of the bill, questioning what would happen if a state government falls before the scheduled elections. He argued that it would be unjust for a state to remain without a government for the rest of the term.
Jairam Ramesh, Congress MP, also demanded that the bill be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for further discussions, stating that it undermines democratic principles. He pointed out that Congress had clearly opposed the proposal, as expressed in a letter by party president Mallikarjun Kharge to the Kovind committee last year.
Despite opposition concerns, the bill has been welcomed by the BJP-led NDA alliance, which claims that One Nation, One Election will save time, reduce election costs, and streamline the electoral process across the country.
(With agencies inputs)