'One Nation, One Election' Bill Introduced Only To Massage Ego Of Supreme Leader: Asaduddin Owaisi | LIVE
The 'One Nation, One Election' Bill, 2024, aims to hold simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. It will be tabled in the Lok Sabha and likely referred to a JPC for deliberations.
Parliament is not competent to make any law that violates fundamental rights. This Bill will indirectly introduce a presidential style of democracy; it will maximise political convenience; and this Bill will finish regional political parties. This Bill has been introduced only to massage the ego of the Supreme Leader: AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi.
If simultaneous elections are held, voter turnout will increase... I support the 'One Nation, One Election' Bill: MoS and TDP leader Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani.
"Even Election Commissioners should be elected by people. In the last three years, we saw the poll body make decisions not acceptable to the principles of democracy... We oppose the 'one nation, one election' Bill": Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Anil Desai.
'One Nation, One Election' is not an election reform. It is just fulfilment of one gentleman's desire: TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee takes a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Samajwadi Party MP from Azamgarh says: "A government that can't hold simultaneous elections in 8 states is pitching for concurrent polls in all states and the Lok Sabha because it is scared of losing polls. This should be withdrawn."
Congress leader Manish Tewari has demanded the withdrawal of the ''One Nation, One Election' Bill, saying its introduction was beyond the legislative competence of the Parliament.
Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has introduced the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, also known as the 'One Nation, One Election' Bill.
Speaker Om Birla has taken over from Deputy Speaker Sandhya Ray and is now presiding over the proceedings.
The 'One Nation, One Election' Bill will be introduced in Lok Sabha shortly.
AAP MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer has questioned the intent of the BJP-NDA government behind introducing the 'One Nation, One Election Bill'. He said: "With what intention has the BJP government been working for the last 11 years? They are not doing anything to fulfil the promises they made to the people. They are not doing anything about the demands of people. They are bringing in new Bills on things that have not even been demanded. Who demanded 'One Nation One Election'? It is a federal structure, different states have different issues addressed by the regional parties...They should bring policies that will benefit the people of the state. They want to impose such things just to create controversy so that attention can be diverted from real public issues of inflation, unemployment...AAP will definitely oppose it..."
The TMC's Saugata Roy has also said that his party would oppose the Bill.
Opposition MPs are holding another protest on the Parliament premises over atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.
Congress MP Manish Tewari has cited fundamental "constitutional" issues in the implementation of the 'One Nation, One Election' policy. Tewari said: "It is against the basic structure of the Constitution. India is a union of states. So, you cannot arbitrarily cut short the tenure of state assemblies. The fundamental principles of federalism envisage that the centre and the state are equal partners in the Indian constitutional scheme. How can you make the tenure of the state assemblies subject to the tenure of Parliament? Under what provision of the Constitution do you get that leverage?"
One Nation One Election Bill: NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule said: "We are demanding the Bill be sent to JPC and discussions held on it."
Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has said: "There was a comprehensive two-day debate over the Constitution in Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha is also debating over the same topic. By bringing the 'One Nation, One Election' Bill, they are reaffirming that they don't have any faith in the Constitution. This Bill is against the Constitution, democracy and federal structure of India. We shall strongly oppose this Bill."
'One Nation, One Election' Bill: Congress leader Pramod Tiwari says, "The government is presenting the Bill in the House... You will see they will hand over it to a committee because they are not ready. They very well know that neither their policy nor their intention is right. They know that they cannot get this passed; they should have rather discussed it with Opposition parties."
'One Nation, One Election' Bill: Congress MP Manish Tewari has moved an Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha, opposing the One Nation One Election' Bill. The Bill for simultaneous elections, which is set to be tabled today by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, was cleared by the Union Cabinet last week.
Background
The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, commonly known as the 'One Nation, One Election' Bill, was tabled in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the proposed legislation, which is likely to be forwarded to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for broader deliberations.
The Congress, TMC, and SP have vehemently opposed the introduction of the Bill, calling it "unconstitutional" and "fulfilment of one man's desire".
According to the agenda released, Meghwal is expected to request Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to refer the Bill to the Joint Committee. This committee will be formed based on proportional representation reflecting the party-wise strength of MPs, as reported by PTI. A party official noted on Monday that the chairmanship of the panel would go to the BJP, given its status as the largest party in Parliament.
As per procedural rules, if political parties fail to submit their chosen representatives for the panel to the Speaker, they risk forfeiting their spots. The Speaker is anticipated to announce the composition of the committee by Tuesday evening, following the Bill's introduction. Initially, the committee's duration will be set at 90 days, with a possibility of extension if required.
In addition to this legislation, Meghwal is also expected to present the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, reported news agency PTI. This Bill aims to hold simultaneous elections across the Union Territories, including Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry, and Delhi.
Meanwhile, both the Congress and Shiv Sena have issued whips asking their MPs to be present in the House. Shrirang Barne, the Shiv Sena's chief whip in the Lok Sabha, highlighted the significance of the legislative agenda, urging MPs to attend due to "crucial issues and legislative business" set for discussion.
The Shiv Sena faction, led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, remains a key BJP ally. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is also a part of the high-level committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, is also likely to be in attendance when the Bill is introduced. The Kovind-led panel had earlier presented a report batting for the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies in a phased manner.
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