The Parliament has taken a major step towards electoral reform in the country by introducing the ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill (129th Amendment Act of the Constitution) in the Lok Sabha.
The bill, introduced by Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal, went ahead with 269 votes in favor and 198 against. While a simple majority was required at this stage and accomplished, the opposition parties have said that the latest vote shows that the government lacks the support of a two-thirds majority to clear the bill.
To address the concerns and build a broader consensus, the bill has been forwarded to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further scrutiny.
Who supported it, and who opposed it?
The legislative move to hold simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and local bodies has stirred both support and controversy across the political spectrum.
Opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, and NCP-SP, have raised concerns over potential threats to federalism and the democratic ethos of the country. They argued that such a system could diminish accountability by reducing the frequency of elections, thereby giving a longer leash to incumbent governments without periodic checks from the electorate.
The debate has been particularly heated around the implications for state autonomy and the centralization of power.
Despite the criticism, the bill has received backing from several regional parties, including the YSR Congress, TDP, JDU, JDS, and even the TMC, who saw potential benefits in synchronizing national cohesion.
Supporters of the bill argue that simultaneous elections would streamline the electoral process, reduce frequent elections’ financial and administrative burden, and allow for more consistent governance. Although the system was in place in India until 1967, it fell apart due to various political developments, leading to premature dissolutions of state assemblies or the Lok Sabha.
