Picture : ANI / X
Two bills that lay down the mechanism to hold simultaneous elections were introduced in the Lok Sabha after a fiery debate , with the opposition terming the move ‘dictatorial’ and Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal asserting that the legislation would not tamper with the powers enjoyed by states.
The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Meghwal after a nearly 90-minute debate, followed by a division of votes. As many as 269 members voted in favour of the Bill and 198 against it.
As per PTI report , Meghwal also introduced The Union Territories Amendment Bill, which seeks to align elections in the Union territories of Puducherry, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir with the Lok Sabha polls.
Senior Congress leader and Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari opposed the introduction of the bills and termed the move an assault on the basic structure doctrine that stipulates certain features of the Constitution are beyond the amending power of Parliament.
“One of the essential features is federalism and the structure of our democracy. The bills assault the basic structure of the Constitution and exceed the legislative competence of this House,” Tewari, a former Union minister, said.
Samajwadi Party member Dharmendra Yadav said the measure to introduce ‘one nation, one election’ by the Bharatiya Janata Party was an attempt to bring dictatorship in the country.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had favoured referring the bills to a joint committee of Parliament for wider deliberations at every level.
“Detailed discussions can take place in the JPC. The report of the JPC will be approved by the Cabinet. Then again, there will be a discussion on this (bills) in the House,” Shah said.
Meghwal said he would move a resolution referring the Bills to a joint committee of Parliament.
