Four days after the Union Cabinet’s approval, the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bills will be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday. Union Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal will present the two Bills.
The Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the reform on Thursday. Meghwal will introduce the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill.
The government claims the legislation will streamline the electoral process, improve efficiency, and reduce the financial and administrative burden of holding multiple elections.
The High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections, headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, recommended conducting concurrent elections for the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies. It also suggested synchronising local body elections within 100 days.
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However, critics argue that simultaneous elections could cause logistical and constitutional issues. Opposition parties, including AAP, Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Trinamool Congress, have expressed concerns about the impact on regional autonomy and fairness.
A Congress leader stated, “This is a controversial issue. Our federal structure makes it difficult to implement ‘One Nation, One Election’. The Opposition has not been consulted. All stakeholders must be involved before making such a significant decision.”
Opposition leaders also point out potential challenges, such as dissolving Assemblies mid-term or handling situations where a state or Union government falls before completing its term.
Proponents of the Bill, however, argue that it will bring stability and continuity in governance. They believe it will eliminate the need for governments to operate in a constant election mode.
NDA allies like JD-U and LJP have strongly supported the Bills, citing the potential to cut costs and ensure policy continuity.
The government clarified that the Bills allow for “mid-term” elections in case a government falls. However, these elections would only cover the unexpired portion of the five-year term.
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