BJP Backs ‘One Nation, One Election’ as Opposition MPs Raise Concerns
New Delhi, 8th January 2025: The parliamentary panel formed to examine two bills related to simultaneous elections held its inaugural meeting on Wednesday, with BJP members supporting the proposal, while opposition MPs raised concerns.
During the meeting, Ministry of Law and Justice officials presented the key provisions of the proposed legislation, referencing support from various bodies, including the Law Commission of India, for the idea of conducting Lok Sabha and Assembly elections together.
BJP members endorsed the ‘one nation, one election’ concept, arguing that it would benefit the country.
However, a Congress representative expressed opposition, claiming the idea contradicts the core principles of the Constitution. A Trinamool Congress MP also argued that the proposal undermines the democratic rights of citizens.
The 39-member joint committee, chaired by BJP MP PP Chaudhary, includes members from major political parties, such as Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from Congress, Sanjay Jha from JD(U), Shrikant Shinde from Shiv Sena, Sanjay Singh from AAP, and Kalyan Banerjee from Trinamool Congress. Chaudhary is a former law minister.
The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, which were introduced in the Lok Sabha during the recent Winter Session, were referred to the committee for review.
In response to growing interest from various political parties, the government expanded the committee’s size from 31 to 39 members.
The committee also includes former Union ministers Anurag Thakur, Parshottam Rupala, and Manish Tewari, alongside lawmakers like Anil Baluni, Bansuri Swaraj, and Sambit Patra. It comprises 27 members from the Lok Sabha and 12 from the Rajya Sabha.
