One Nation One Election: BJP Inquirs Into Absence Of MPs During Voting On Bill In Lok Sabha

Following the absence ofits nearly 20 MPs from the Lok Sabha during the voting on Tuesday on the introduction of the One Nation One Election bill for simultaneous elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is inquiring into the matter the ascertain the reason behind their absence.

Ahead of the introduction of the bill, the ruling party had reportedly issued a whip asking all its members to be present in the House. However it has been reported that a number of MPs had informed in advance about their absence due to various personal and work-related reasons while some MPs, including Union minister C R Patil, were engaged with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public event in Rajasthan.

"We are definitely looking into the reasons behind their absence. Quite a few had genuine reasons," a senior leader said, as per PTI.

ONOE in simple terms means that Lok Sabha, state Assembly, and local body (urban or rural) elections will be held in the same year, if not at the same time. This was the norm from independence until 1967, with four electoral cycles held during that period, starting with the first general election in 1951/52. However, this practice occurred only three more times—during the 1957, 1962, and 1967 elections.

ONOE tabled today

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Tuesday introduced the 'One Nation, One Election' (ONOE) bill in the Lok Sabha. The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Meghwal after a division of votes. As many as 269 members voted in favour of the Bill and 198 against it.

The bill, which was approved by the Union Cabinet on December 12, has faced strong opposition. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described it as a significant step for India's democracy after Union Cabinet recently approved the "One Nation, One Election" bill.

ALSO READ | 'One Nation One Election' Bill Tabled: Cost Saving Or Threat To Federalism?

Opposition Slams Constitutional Amendment Bills

Sharply criticising, the opposition alleged that the move was "dictatorial" and impinged on states' powers even as Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal refuted such concerns.Opposition leaders also called it a direct assault on the Constitution’s basic structure.

ALSO READ | 'One Nation, One Election' Tabled In Lok Sabha, Opposition Slams It As Threats To Federalism

Congress MP Manish Tewari argued that the bills violate core constitutional principles. "Beyond the seventh schedule of the Constitution is the basic structure doctrine... one of the essential features is federalism and the structure of our democracy. Therefore, the bills... absolutely assault the basic structure of the Constitution and are beyond the legislative competence of this House," he stated.

While Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav echoed concerns over the bills' threat to federalism, DMK leader T.R. Baalu raised alarms about the financial burden of conducting a massive electoral exercise. TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee also warned that the amendments contradicted the current Constitution.