Bills for One Nation, One Election Introduced in Lok Sabha Amid Opposition Chaos

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 17th Dec. The Lok Sabha on Tuesday witnessed the introduction of two key bills aimed at implementing the “One Nation, One Election” framework—The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 and The Union Territories Laws Amendment Bill, 2024. The bills were tabled following a voting process.

The proposed legislation seeks to synchronize Lok Sabha, state assembly, municipal, and panchayat elections, streamlining them within 100 days of general elections. The Union Cabinet had earlier endorsed the High-Level Committee’s recommendations, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which proposed constitutional amendments to enable simultaneous elections.

Key Provisions
The bills propose introducing Article 82A to align Lok Sabha and state assembly terms, defining “simultaneous elections” as polls conducted concurrently. Additional amendments to Articles 83, 172, and 327 are aimed at ensuring uniformity in electoral terms and addressing mid-term elections.

The Union Territories Laws Amendment Bill, 2024 aligns local election schedules across union territories, while also amending specific sections of existing laws such as the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.

Opposition Reactions
Opposition leaders strongly opposed the bills, labeling them an attack on the Constitution’s federal structure and electoral autonomy. Congress leader Manish Tewari argued that tying state assembly terms to Lok Sabha tenure undermines federalism and the Constitution’s “Basic Structure.” AITC leader Kalyan Banerjee called the move an overreach of central authority, while AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi said it violates democratic self-governance by potentially shortening state assembly tenures.

Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP leaders echoed concerns about excessive centralization, with Supriya Sule stating that the bills undermine the distinct terms of central and state governments.

Government’s Defense
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal defended the bills, asserting that they respect the Constitution’s federal character. Meghwal cited Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s vision of federalism and highlighted provisions in Article 327 and Schedule VII that empower Parliament to legislate on elections.

The ministers emphasized that the proposed changes streamline elections, reduce costs, and alleviate administrative burdens while ensuring no fundamental principles, such as judicial review and separation of powers, are affected.

Next Steps
While some government leaders agreed to consider sending the bills to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for further scrutiny, the bills have now been passed in the Lok Sabha. The path ahead will likely involve deliberations in the Rajya Sabha and consultations with stakeholders, including states and the Election Commission of India.

The legislative move marks a critical step in the government’s push toward electoral synchronization, a subject of extensive debate with potential implications for India’s democratic processes and federal structure.