Tue Dec 17 09:19:00 UTC 2024: ## One Nation, One Election Bill Sparks Fierce Debate in Indian Parliament

**New Delhi, India** – The Indian Parliament witnessed a heated debate Tuesday over the introduction of the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, aiming to implement “One Nation, One Election.” The bill, proposing simultaneous federal and state elections, passed its first hurdle after a division vote, with 269 MPs voting in favor and 198 against.

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal defended the bill, asserting it wouldn’t damage the Constitution’s basic structure or tamper with states’ powers. He highlighted consultations with various stakeholders, including opposition parties, by a panel led by former President Ram Nath Kovind. The bill was subsequently sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further consideration, as expected. This marks the first time the Lok Sabha has held a division vote to table a Constitutional Amendment Bill.

However, the opposition vehemently opposed the bill, labeling it an assault on India’s federal structure and a path to dictatorship. Congress MP Manish Tewari led the charge, arguing the bill contradicts Article 1 of the Constitution, which establishes India as a Union of States. He, along with MPs from the Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, raised concerns about the bill’s impact on grassroots democracy, state governments, and regional parties. Concerns were also raised regarding the significant cost of implementing simultaneous elections, estimated at ₹10,000 crore (approximately $1.2 billion USD) every 15 years for new electronic voting machines.

While the BJP’s allies, including the Telugu Desam Party and a faction of the Shiv Sena, voiced their support, the Shiv Sena (UBT), Nationalist Congress Party, and AIMIM joined the opposition, emphasizing concerns about federalism and states’ rights.

The “One Nation, One Election” proposal seeks to synchronize all elections, meaning Lok Sabha (national parliament) and state assembly elections would occur concurrently. Currently, elections are staggered across different years, leading to frequent campaigning and administrative burdens. However, the implementation requires constitutional amendments and consensus among state governments and major political parties. Legal experts caution that failure to achieve this consensus could render the proposal legally vulnerable.

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