New Delhi : Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi on Tuesday criticised the One Nation, One Election bill, calling it an "Anti-Constitutional Bill" against the federalism of India.
Gandhi reiterated Congress' current position of opposing the bill and said, "Anti-Constitutional Bill. It's against the federalism of our nation. We are opposing the Bill."
Additionally, Revolutionary Socialist Party MP NK Premchandran demanded to withdraw the bill.
"The government desires to send the Bill to the JPC. We are totally against the Bill and our demand was to withdraw the Bill. Now, the Bill is introduced and we will demand that it be sent to the JPC," he said.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024' and 'The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024' was formally introduced in Lok Sabha after members voted on it. The bill proposes 'One Nation One Election' or simultaneous elections to both Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The bill will be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed discussions.
On Tuesday, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha announced the result of the vote on the introduction of the bill in the house. The vote showed 269 members in favour (Ayes) and 196 against (Noes). This followed Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal's formal introduction of the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, on 'One Nation, One Election' and his agreement to sending the bill to a JPC in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Amit Shah said, "When the One Nation, One Election Bill was taken up in the cabinet for approval, PM Modi had said that it should be sent to the JPC for detailed discussion. If the Law Minister is willing to send the bill to JPC, the discussion on its introduction can end."
Meghwal also introduced a bill 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 amendments aim to align assembly elections in Delhi, Jammu Kashmir, and Puducherry with the proposed simultaneous elections.