Tue Dec 17 13:41:40 UTC 2024: ## BJP’s “One Nation, One Election” Bill Faces Hurdle: Lacks Two-Thirds Majority

**New Delhi, December 18, 2024** – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s ambitious “One Nation, One Election” bill, aimed at synchronizing national and state elections, encountered a significant setback on Tuesday. Despite successfully tabling two constitutional amendment bills in the Lok Sabha, the BJP lacked the necessary two-thirds majority to pass them.

A crucial vote on the introduction of the bills revealed that the BJP secured only 269 votes out of 461 present and voting, falling short of the required 307 votes. The opposition, comprising parties such as the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, and DMK, vehemently opposed the bills, arguing they undermine the fundamental structure of the Constitution. While allies like the Telugu Desam Party and a faction of the Shiv Sena expressed support, the BJP’s own numbers proved insufficient.

Party leaders Manickam Tagore and Shashi Tharoor highlighted the shortfall, emphasizing the BJP’s failure to secure the required two-thirds majority. The BJP’s own strength, along with its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), stands at only 293 MPs. Even with full house participation, the NDA would need at least 69 more votes to pass the bill.

The BJP has acknowledged the shortfall and plans to send notices to over 20 absent MPs who were subject to a three-line whip to ensure their presence. While the bills were successfully introduced with a simple majority, their future remains uncertain. They will likely be sent to a joint parliamentary committee dominated by the BJP.

The “One Nation, One Election” proposal seeks to hold all elections simultaneously, a move the government believes would streamline the electoral process and reduce costs. Currently, elections are staggered across different states and the nation, leading to frequent campaigning and administrative burdens. However, the opposition argues that the proposal would concentrate excessive power and could potentially impact the autonomy of state governments. The bill’s fate now rests on the outcome of the joint committee and the BJP’s ability to garner additional support.

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