One Nation One Election bill were introduced in Lok sabha yesterday. The Constitution bill and the Union Territories Amendment Bill were passed through a division of votes, marking the first use of the electronic voting system in the new Parliament House. The Centre has introduced two bills in the Lok Sabha that will help Implement the Bharatiya Janata party plank of ‘’one Nation, One Election’’. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal Tuesday tabled the bills- the constitution bill and the Union Territories Amendment Bill- to Sync the general and Assembly election. The bills secured 269 votes in favour and 198 against, after which the proceedings were briefly adjourned. The cabinet had approved the bills last week, seeking to align the election processes of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, puducherry, and the NCT of delhi. However, the provisions of the amendment indicate that simultaneous will not take place until 2034.
The two bills, aimed at implementing one nation, one election, triggered a fiery debate, with opposition parties denouncing them as an ‘attack’ on the federal structure doctrine. Principles like judicial review, federal character, and supremacy of the constitution remain intact.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah intervened, proposing wider deliberations on the bills through a joint Parliamentary Committee. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi favoured detailed Discussion at every level on the ‘one nation, one election’ bill and wanted it to be referred to a joint Committee of parliament.
The proposed framework for one Nation, one Election involves two separate Constitutional Amendment Bills to Transition the country to simultaneous elections across all levels of government.