TDP confirms support to 'One Nation One Election' bill; Chandrababu Naidu says "Elections should not hinder development"

Confirming his backing for the bill, Chandrababu Naidu said, "Elections should not hinder development."

Notably, Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will introduce The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha on December 16.

"The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024: Arjun Ram Meghwal to move for leave to introduce a Bill further to amend the Constitution of India. Also to introduce the Bill," read the list of business.

The first amendment bill aims to facilitate simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, while another bill seeks to synchronise assembly elections in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry.

Several opposition leaders have raised concerns about the One Nation, One Election proposal, describing it as impractical and a threat to federalism.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh called for the proposed bill to be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee, asserting that it undermines democracy.

"The bill will be presented in Parliament, and we want it to be referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee, which will hold discussions on it. The Indian National Congress's position was clarified last year by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who sent a four-page letter to former President Ram Nath Kovind's committee on One Nation, One Election, stating our opposition to the bill," Ramesh told ANI.

People's Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti criticised the NDA government, accusing it of eroding the Indian Constitution through the proposal.

Speaking at the PDP General Council Meeting in Srinagar, Mufti remarked that India's federal structure is at risk due to the initiative.

"Unfortunately, the NDA government is destroying the Constitution of India day by day. India is a federal country. There is a federal structure here. One Nation, One Election undermines this federal structure," she said.

On December 12, the One Nation, One Election bill was approved by the Union Cabinet, paving the way for its introduction in Parliament. However, even before its formal tabling, the bill has sparked debates between ruling and opposition parties.

While several parties of the INDIA bloc have opposed the bill, BJP-led NDA alliance parties have welcomed it, arguing that it would save time and establish a framework for unified elections across the country.

Earlier in September, the Union Cabinet had approved the One Nation, One Election proposal, which seeks to hold simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, along with urban body and panchayat polls, within a span of 100 days.

The recommendations were outlined in a report by a high-level panel chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind.

Following the Cabinet's approval, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the decision, calling it a significant step towards strengthening India's democracy. (ANI)