'One Nation, One Election' Bill introduced in Lok Sabha with 269 votes in favour
Two Bills that lay down the mechanism to hold simultaneous elections were introduced in the Lok Sabha after a fiery debate on Tuesday.
Opposition parties dubbed the draft laws -- a Constitution amendment Bill and an ordinary Bill -- as an attack on the federal structure, a charge rejected by the government.
The Bills were introduced after the Opposition sought a division of votes.
After electronic voting and a subsequent count by paper slips, the Bills were introduced with 269 members in favour and 198 against.
This was the first time that the electronic voting system was used in the Lok Sabha in the new Parliament House.
The proceedings were later adjourned for a little over an hour till 3 pm.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moved for introduction the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, popularly being referred to as the Bill on “one nation, one election” and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to align the elections of the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry and the NCT of Delhi.
Opposing the Bills at introductory stage, Manish Tewari of the Congress said they are against the basic structure as enshrined in the Constitution.
Members can oppose any Bill at the introduction stage. Following this, the Bill is introduced by the minister concerned through a voice vote.
Dharmendra Yadav (SP) said the Bill is an attack on the federal structure outlined by framers of the Constitution. He said while a set of Assembly polls cannot be held together, the government is talking of one nation, one election.
T R Baalu of the DMK questioned the expenditure it will entail in holding the massive exercise.
Kalyan Banerjee of the TMC said it hits the basic structure of the Constitution. He said proposed insertion of an article is contrary to the present Constitution.
TDP's Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani supported the bill, saying his party extends unwavering support to the proposal.
