The bill aims to pave the way for the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, which seeks to synchronise elections for Parliament, state assemblies, and local bodies across India. Proponents argue it will reduce “wasteful” election cycles and enhance governance.
Published Dec 17, 2024 | 1:05 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 17, 2024 | 4:16 PM
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi | Wikimedia Commons
The ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha today, has sparked strong opposition across southern states, with NDA-ruled Andhra Pradesh being the sole exception.
The Union cabinet approved the bill on 12 December, and Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal tabled the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha.
The bill aims to pave the way for the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, which seeks to synchronise elections for Parliament, state assemblies, and local bodies across India.
Proponents argue that it could reduce “wasteful” electoral expenditure, increase voter turnout, and enable elected representatives to focus on governance rather than being stuck in perpetual “election mode”.
However, detractors contend that the bill undermines India’s democratic ethos and risks centralising power with the Union government. The primary argument against the proposal is that national issues could overshadow local concerns, diluting the representation of regional voices.
As the assembly session continues in Belagavi, Karnataka’s government has yet to decide on passing a resolution against the bill. However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has publicly expressed his strong opposition to the proposal.
In a post on social media platform X, the chief minister called the bill an “assault on parliamentary democracy and the federal structure of India” and a “sinister conspiracy to curb the rights of states.” While emphasising the need for electoral reforms, he criticised the bill, arguing it would undermine the country’s democratic foundations.
The Union Cabinet’s approval of the “One Nation, One Election” Bill is not only an assault on parliamentary democracy and the federal structure of India but also a sinister conspiracy to curb the rights of states. At a time when the current electoral system is in dire need of…
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) December 12, 2024
Siddaramiah also accused the BJP-led Union government of failing to consult opposition parties and state governments before proposing the bill.
Kerala’s state assembly unanimously passed a resolution opposing the bill on 10 October. Parliamentary Affairs Minister MB Rajesh, presenting the resolution in the absence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who was unwell, argued that the bill violates constitutional principles.
“It is anti-democratic to treat elections for Parliament, state assemblies, and local-self-government bodies merely as an expense. This is an attempt to erode India’s rich cultural, social, and political diversity,” Rajesh stated. He also suggested that instead of drastic measures, the Union government should consider smaller, rational steps to reduce election costs.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has been vocal in his opposition to the ‘One Nation, One Election’ policy, calling it “impractical” and incompatible with the democratic principles that the country is built on. In February of this year, the Tamil Nadu assembly passed a resolution against the policy, with Stalin stressing that simultaneous elections to various bodies in a country as vast and diverse as India would undermine the concept of “democratic decentralisation.”
Also read: One Nation One Election: Multitudes of questions
In Telangana, where Revanth Reddy-led Congress is in power, sources suggest that the state’s stance on the bill will align with decisions made by the party high command in Delhi.
Ahead of the winter session today, the party issued a notice in the Lok Sabha, opposing the introduction of the ‘One Nation One Election’ bill.
The Telangana government independently, however, has not taken any official stand in the matter.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has, in the past, spoken against the One Nation, One Election proposal. In September this year, speaking at a memorial event for CPI(M) stalwart Sitaram Yechury, Revanth Reddy deemed the move an attempt to weaken the federal spirit of India.
Among southern states, Andhra Pradesh is the lone state in support of the ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu endorsed the proposal on 14 December, arguing that simultaneous elections would allow more time for development.
Chandrababu Naidu leads the TDP-JSP-BJP coalition government in Andhra Pradesh and is a trusted ally of the BJP in the parliament. The BJP is counting on TDP’s support in both houses for the ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill.
Naidu remarked that frequent elections, which currently occur every few months, often shift the focus to electoral politics rather than governance. “With elections happening all the time, the rulers will have to work only for polls,” he stated.
However, speaking ahead of the bill’s tabling in the Lok Sabha, Naidu said that elections for the Andhra Pradesh legislative elections will held in 2029 following the completion of the current term, possibly hinting at an exception for the state.
“Even if simultaneous elections come into force in the country, elections will be held in Andhra Pradesh as scheduled in 2029. I have already supported the proposal. If elections are held frequently, leaders will focus only on elections. They would have no time to think of the welfare of the people,” he said.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
