The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is getting ready to issue notices to more than 20 Lok Sabha MPs who missed the all-important voting on the ‘One Nation, One Election’ (ONOE) bill, after the party had issued a whip that all its members be present during the session.
Introduction of the ONOE Bill
The ONOE Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on July 17, 2024, by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, with the objective of synchronizing the elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
The bill proposes to amend the Constitution to enable the holding of simultaneous elections, which the government contends will cut electoral expenses and lessen troop burdens.
The motion for introduction was passed with 269 votes in favor and 198 against.
Accident of the BJP MPs
Despite the party directive, more than 20 BJP MPs still failed to show up for this crucial vote.
Expressing its displeasure over this non-compliance, especially regarding the bill’s significant nature, party leadership is now preparing to issue notices to explain their absence.
Opposition’s Stance
The ONOE bill has faced huge discontent from various political parties. Critics argue that this would create a major dent in the federal structure of the Constitution and that centralization of power is possible.
Congress leader Manish Tewari called it an assault on the Constitution, pointing to the fact that it purportedly violates the basic structure doctrine: i.e. the federal nature of democracy in India.
A Defense put forward by the Government
Defending the bill, Law Minister Meghwal asserted that the amendments do not violate the Constitution’s basic structure.
He stated that the independence of judiciary, federal character, and separation of power remain intact. He further said that the objections raised by the opposition were political and not constitutional.
Referral to the Joint Parliamentary Committee
After the debate, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that Prime Minister Modi favored referring the bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for comprehensive deliberation.
Shah stressed that a JPC would allow for detailed deliberation on all the voices of the political parties to be heard.
Thereafter, the committee’s report would be placed before the Cabinet before further debate in the Parliament.
Implications of the ONOE Bill
The ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative aims to streamline the electoral cycles of the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
Proponents say that it would save huge sums of money, lessen interruption of governance during elections, and afford a government significant time to administer instead of campaigning.
But opposition parties fear it might inhibit regional parties and undermine the autonomy of state governments.
Next Steps
The JPC is expected to come into touch with various stakeholders, constitutional experts, political parties, and members of civil society to thoroughly ascertain the implications of the bill.
The findings will play a crucial role in determining the future of the ONOE initiative.
The BJP’s decision to issue notices to absent MPs stands testament to the party’s steadfast commitment to the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative.
As the bill is being scrutinized further, it has generated a national discussion that hinges on the balance between efficient elections and the federal democratic structure of India.
