Both the houses of parliament witnessed heated discussions on the AAPs protest on non implementation of the government’s key “One Nation One Election” Bill and the BJP is now planning to serve notices to its MPs who were absent during the introduction of the Bill in the Lok Sabha.
It is alleged that more than 20 BJP MPs were not present in the house when the session was on during the presentation of the bill.
The BJP had earlier given a three-line whip to all its Lok Sabha MPs asking them to remain present during the important session. Nevertheless, several lawmakers did not attend it and that caused the party to take certain measures.
Nevertheless, the absence did not become a problem as the two bills to amend the Constitution were approved by the simple majority in the House.
The passage of the bill was never in jeopardy but the option was perfect for the Congress and other opposition parties to scrutinize the strength of the government on this front.
Two bills to amend the Constitution and make polls to both the parliament and the state assembly possible at the same time have been approved with 269 MPs in support besides 198 opposed to it. From the rulebook, it was clear that a fifty plus one majority was enough to pass the bills at this stage.
But Congress leader Shashi Tharoor pointed out one crucial fact. He said that before any Constitution amendment bill can be passed it has to go through a two-third majority. Tharoor pointed out that the government evidently does not have the requisite numbers for this purpose.
Of course, the government has its numbers on its side. But to pass Constitution amendments, that is 233, which they very clearly do not have,” Tharoor told reporters. He also said that the government should not go for the bill in view of this reality.
The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill was laid in the Lok Sabha by the Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. The government is now planning to refer the bill to a parliamentary committee for further debate of the matter.
The goal is to achieve more support and engagement from the Needle endorsement reviews of both political parties as well as state governments.
Bringing about the ‘One Nation One Election’ can be done only through changes in the Constitution. Such changes would require the ratification of not only Parliament but also all state and union territory governments.
This procedural complexity is where the opposition parties have voiced their serious concern and protested vehemently. Most players concerned have argued that the proposed bill erodes the Constitution and its concepts.
They have suggested that conducting the general elections concurrently is likely to compromise the federal system of government.
The government on the other hand has vehemently dismissed all these allegations. As Arjun Ram Meghwal said while presenting the bill in the Lok Sabha, pronounced that such a move was in order to simplify the electoral process, proposed by the bill.
Others point of view: Electoral laws can be introduced for electoral reforms. This bill is in harmony with the process of making the electoral process easier , which will be harmonised. This Bill will not be destructive to the Constitution in any way.
“There will be no distortion of the Constitution as we know it today,” Meghwal said when speaking on the matter.
The ‘One Nation One Election’ concept has been a long-pursued dream of the BJP government that wants all the elections – that of Parliament and state assemblies – to be held at one go.
Supporters’ rationale is that conduction of the two elections at the same time will be cheaper, efficient in governance, and economical in terms of administration.
However, the opposition parties have received the programme with scorn. They submit that it may water down regional agendas and ignore state interests, breakthroughs, since nationalism may overshadow other concerns among the electorate.
Opposition to the bill has notably come from regional parties, with most of these expressing their concern by arguing vehemently that they exist to protect the federal structure of India’s democracy.
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