Parliament Winter Session Live Updates: “One Nation, One Election”, a constitutional amendment bill is likely to be tabled in the Lok Sabha today. The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, popularly referred to as the Bill on “One Nation, One Election”, is expected to be introduced by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. Once approved, the bill will ensure Lok Sabha, Assembly, and local body (urban or rural) elections will be held in the same year, if not at the same time. This was the norm from independence to 1967.
In Rajya Sabha, a two-day Constitution debate will continue. The debate, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the adoption of India’s Constitution, was initiated yesterday by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Here are the Live updates of the Parliament Winter Session:
“This Goes Against Constitution”: RJD MP Manoj Jha On ‘One Nation, One Election’
Manoj Jha, Member of Parliament from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has opposed ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill which is set to be tabled in the Lok Sabha today. “This goes against the federal character. This goes against the Indian constitution. This goes against the will of the people which is the pivot of Parliamentary democracy,” he said while speaking to NDTV.
Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is expected to introduce the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha, paving the way for the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal.
The law minister is also likely to introduce Bills to amend the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, as per the day’s schedule. These bills seek to align assembly elections in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry for simultaneous elections.
The Union Cabinet had, in September, accepted the recommendations of a High-Level Committee on simultaneous elections, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind. The panel’s report outlined the implementation of simultaneous polls in two phases. First, holding Lok Sabha and assembly elections together. Second, conducting local body elections (panchayat and municipal polls) within 100 days of the general elections.
The panel also recommended a common electoral roll for all elections.
Several INDIA bloc parties have opposed the bill, while BJP-led NDA alliance parties have welcomed it, claiming that it would save time, reduce election costs, and streamline the electoral process nationwide.
BJP MP Dr Sanjay Jaiswal urged every Parliamentarian to consider ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill with an open mind. “Why are they (the opposition) outright rejecting without debating something that was initiated with the creation of the Constitution and implemented for the next 20 years?” he asked.
#WATCH | Delhi | On One Nation One Election, BJP MP Dr Sanjay Jaiswal says, “Every Parliamentarian should consider it with an open mind… Why are they (the opposition) outright rejecting without debating something that was initiated with the creation of the Constitution and… pic.twitter.com/4ODpVowKkH
– ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2024
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh says, “The Congress party firmly, totally, comprehensively reject the one nation, one election bill. We will oppose the introduction. We will demand its reference to a Joint Parliamentary Committee. We believe it’s unconstitutional. We believe it goes against the basic structure and it is meant to throttle democracy and accountability in this country.”
#WATCH | Delhi: On One Nation One Election Bill, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh says, “The Congress party firmly, totally, comprehensively reject the one nation, one election bill. We will oppose the introduction. We will demand its reference to a Joint Parliamentary Committee. We… pic.twitter.com/VrwyQDvAV5
– ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2024
Parliament Winter Session Update: Congress MP Manickam Tagore To Raise Farmers Issue
Congress MP Manickam Tagore gives Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha to discuss the ongoing hunger strike by farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal which has entered its 21st day.
Congress MP Manish Tewari has given an Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha, opposing the One Nation, One Election Bill. Mr Tewari has listed three major concerns concerning the bill, this includes:
- Violation of constitutional principles: Article 1 of the Constitution establishes that India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States, affirming its federal character. The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, which proposes simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, directly challenges this federal framework by imposing uniformity across states.
- Impact on the basic structure of the constitution: The proposed insertion of Article 82A in the Constitution to facilitate simultaneous elections necessitates the premature dissolution of State Assemblies, effectively altering the fixed tenure of legislative bodies as guaranteed under Articles 83 and 172 of the Constitution, which further will be amended through the proposed bill… By undermining the federal character of governance and enforcing uniformity, the Bill violates core elements of the basic structure, including federalism, separation of powers, and the republican and democratic framework.
- Undermining state government: By centralising electoral processes, the Bill undermines the authority of elected state governments, weakens grassroots democracy, and encroaches on the autonomy of local governance.
Mr Tewari has urged the Union government to reconsider the introduction of the bill until the above mentioned issues are addressed.
Parliament Winter Session Update: Congress’ Vijay Vasanth Gives Adjournment Motion Notice To Discuss Unemployment Cris
Congress MP Vijay Vasanth gives Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha to discuss India’s deepening unemployment crisis. In his notice, Mr Vasant has cited the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) and Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data, which show the unemployment rate at 7.8% in September 2024. “Despite government claims, there has been no substantial improvement in employment between July 2023 and June 2024,” he noted.