The ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill, which provides for simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies, is slated to be introduced in Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The Union Cabinet approved the ‘One Nation One Election’ Bill on December 12, paving the way for its introduction in the Parliament.

The listed agenda of Lok Sabha for Tuesday also includes the Constitution Amendment Bill concerning simultaneous elections.

Before the introduction of the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill in the Parliament, it initiated a debate between the ruling and Opposition parties.

While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies are in support of the Bill, several Opposition parties, including Congress, Trinamool Congress and MK Stalin’s Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) are opposed to it.

While a total of 32 political parties are supporting the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill, 15 others are opposing it.

In September, the Union Cabinet had accepted the recommendations of a high-level committee, headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, on simultaneous elections.

The panel recommended the implementation of simultaneous polls in two phases. It recommended holding Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously in the first phase and conducting local body elections (panchayat and municipalities) within 100 days of general elections.

It said there should be a common electoral roll for all elections.

BJP, ALLIES BACK ONE NATION ONE ELECTION

On Monday, MPs from the BJP expressed their full support for the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill, and called it “very important".

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Brij Lal welcomed the Bill, noting that simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly elections used to be held until 1966. He pointed out that the current practice of holding elections throughout the year occupies security forces, who are then pulled from their duties at borders and law enforcement, and emphasised that the bill would save time and resources, helping to accelerate development.

Rajya Sabha MP Rekha Sharma also supported the Bill, highlighting its potential to save money, resources, and time, and expressed that the savings could be used for development and infrastructure projects.

BJP Lok Sabha MP Sudhakar K expressed that ‘One Nation, One Election’ aligns with the government’s goal of ensuring uninterrupted progress and explained that the election processes often waste valuable time, hindering development and administration.

Sudhakar also urged lawmakers to support the Bill, stressing that it would benefit the nation as a whole by promoting good governance and development.

According to the details, the BJP, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Janata Dal (United), and the Shiv Sena were some of the NDA partners who issued a whip in the Lok Sabha for the Bill.

On December 14, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram attacked the Union government over ‘One Nation One Election’, saying that the party will oppose this proposal. He also opined that bringing such a Bill without talking to the Opposition was “dictatorship".

Also talking to the media, CPI(M) Leader MY Tarigami said that the Bill would damage the country’s unity and its essence which is diversity.

Meanwhile, BJD MP Sasmit Patra recommended a joint parliamentary committee into the matter.

LIST OF PARTIES BACKING ONE NATION ONE ELECTION

Here’s a list of political parties favouring the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill.

• BJP

• National People’s Party (NPP)

• All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

• All Jharkhand Students Union

• Apna Dal

• ASOM Gana Parishad

• Biju Janata Dal (BJD)

• Janata Dal (United)

• Lok Jan Shakti Party (R)

• Mizo National Front

• National Democratic Progressive Party

• Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)

• United People’s Party Liberal

• Pattali Makkal Katchi

• Republican Party Of India (A)

• Tamil Maanila Congress (M)

• Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal

• United Kisan Vikas Party

• Bharatiya Samaj Party

• Gorkha National Liberal Front

• Hindustani Aavam Morcha

• Indian Makkal Kalvi Munnetra Kazhagam

• Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura

• Jan Surajay Shakti

• Rashtriya Lok Jan Shakti Party

• Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party

• Nishad Party

• Puthia Nidhi Katchi

• Rashtrawadi Congress Party (Ajit Pawar)

• Democratic Progressive Azad Party

• Shiv Sena

• Sikkim Krantikari Morcha

LIST OF PARTIES OPPOSING ONE NATION ONE ELECTION

Here’s a list of political parties opposing the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill.

• Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)

• Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)

• Communist Party of India (Marxist)

• Congress

• Samajwadi Party

• All India United Democratic Front

• Trinamool Congress

• All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM)

• Communist Party of India (CPI)

• Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)

• Naga People’s Front

• Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi

• Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

• Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation

• Social Democratic Party of India

ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL TO INTRODUCE BILL

Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is expected to introduce the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha today, paving the way for the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal.

Additionally, the Law Minister is likely to introduce Bills to amend the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, as per the day’s schedule.

These bills seek to align assembly elections in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry for simultaneous elections

Source: News18