Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Akhilesh Yadav criticized the Union government over the ‘One Nation One Election’ proposal on Saturday. He suggested that the ruling government should dissolve and hold elections again. He stated, “I think there will be 2,000 pages in this report. We don’t even know what the report is. If they are in such a hurry to bring One Nation One Election, then today PM Modi is coming to Parliament. He should dissolve the government and hold elections again. It is the best time to dissolve the government when we are having a debate on the Constitution, if they are in a hurry.”
Congress Opposes the Proposal
In addition, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram expressed opposition to the proposal. He explained, “The Congress party will oppose this proposal, and many regional parties, including the DMK, oppose it as well. It is yet another attempt by the government to take away the federal structure. Having two or three state elections is very good for democracy. It gives people an opportunity to either endorse or negate political parties.”
Bill to Be Introduced in Parliament
Meanwhile, Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is set to introduce ‘The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024’ in the Lok Sabha on December 16. The bill seeks to hold simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Additionally, it aims to align elections in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry. The Union Cabinet approved the proposal in December, marking a significant step forward.
Opposition Raises Concerns
On the other hand, opposition leaders have raised serious concerns about the ‘One Nation One Election’ proposal. They argue that it is impractical and undermines federalism. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, for instance, insisted that the bill should be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for further discussion. He added, “The Indian National Congress’s position was clarified last year by party president Mallikarjun Kharge. He sent a letter to former President Ram Nath Kovind’s committee on One Nation, One Election, stating that we oppose the bill.”
Cabinet’s Approval and Government’s Stand
Furthermore, on December 12, the Union Cabinet approved the ‘One Nation One Election’ bill, paving the way for its introduction in Parliament. This move has sparked a heated debate between the ruling and opposition parties. While opposition parties in the INDIA bloc oppose the proposal, BJP-led NDA alliance parties have welcomed it, arguing that it will save time and help create a unified election system across India.
The proposal, initially approved in September 2024, aims to conduct simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. It also seeks to include urban body and panchayat elections within 100 days. The recommendations were made by a high-level panel chaired by former President Kovind. Overall, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the decision, calling it a crucial step towards strengthening India’s democracy.
