One Nation, One Election Bill: Lok Sabha Approves Introduction Of Jamili Bill

• General

• December 17, 2024

A unified electoral framework, also referred to as the One Nation, One Election plan, which aims to hold simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies, has now arrived in Parliament for debate. On Tuesday, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal presented the One Nation One Election Bill in the Lok Sabha, accompanied by the 129th Constitutional Amendment Bill. While several opposition parties, including Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), and Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposed the bill, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies voiced their full support. A vote was held regarding the introduction of the bill.

Voting Outcome

• In Favor: 269 votes
• Opposed: 198 votes

The voting was done in a hybrid manner that combined electronic and ballot-based voting. After garnering majority support from 269 Members of Parliament, Union Minister Meghwal formally presented the Jamili Bill to the House.

Support from TDP

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supported the bill without any conditions. TDP MP Pemmasani Chandrasekhar strongly agreed with the bill, referring to its benefits such as low cost of elections, efficiency in polling, and more people voting. "Continuous elections hinder development and the current expenditure exceeds ₹1 lakh crore. Jamili elections will enhance efficiency," Chandrasekhar said.

Opposition Leaders against the Jamili Bill

Opposition leaders were also critical of the Jamili Bill, questioning its constitutional validity:

• Congress MP Manish Tewari: "The Jamili Bill is against the constitution's basic structure and must be withdrawn immediately.
• SP Leader Dharmendra Yadav said, "This bill is likely to pave the way to dictatorship and harm democratic values."
• TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee: "It attacks state rights and acts like a virus in democracy. Electoral reforms are what we need, not Jamili elections. Past bills like NJAC were passed without discussion and later struck down. The same fate awaits this."
• Majlis MP Asaduddin Owaisi: "This move risks shifting to a presidential-style governance, harming regional parties and violating constitutional principles."
• NCP MP Supriya Sule: "The Jamili Election Bill violates state rights. It should either be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) or withdrawn."

NDA and Allies Support

NDA leaders strongly defended the bill, terming opposition concerns as politically motivated:

• Shiv Sena MP Srikanth Shinde: "The opposition resists reforms, which is why they oppose this bill. We fully support Jamili elections."
• Union minister Amit Shah: "We have nothing against sending the bill to a JPC. Even PM Modi mooted the idea at the cabinet meeting."
• Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal: "This is 1983 idea and coincides with the international conventions as prevailing in Sweden and Germany. Jamili elections violate no principles of federalism, not that of the Constitution structure. This criticism is politically motivated by the opposition.

Conclusion

The introduction of the One Nation One Election Bill in Parliament has ignited a fierce debate. While the NDA emphasizes its cost-saving benefits and alignment with global standards, opposition parties warn against constitutional violations and risks to federalism. The future of the Jamili Bill remains uncertain, as deliberations continue.