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The Union Cabinet has approved two bills, including one to amend the Constitution to implement ‘one nation, one election’, and the draft legislations are likely to be introduced in Parliament in the ongoing winter session, sources said. As of now, the Cabinet has given its nod to draft legislations to hold simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies only, the sources said.
As per PTI report, As of now, the Cabinet has given its nod to draft legislations to hold simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies only, the sources said. While a high-level committee led by former president Ram Nath Kovind had also proposed holding the municipality and panchayat polls along with the national and state elections in a phased manner, the Cabinet has decided to stay away, ‘as of now.
While a high-level committee led by former president Ram Nath Kovind had also proposed holding the municipality and panchayat polls along with the national and state elections in a phased manner, the Cabinet has decided to stay away, ‘as of now’, from the manner in which local body elections are conducted.
A comprehensive bill is expected to follow this decision, paving the way for unified elections across the nation.
Earlier on Wednesday, former President of India Ram Nath Kovind stated that the Central government must build a consensus on the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative, emphasising that the issue transcends political interests and serves the nation as a whole.
Speaking to the media, Kovind, who chairs the committee on the issue, said, “The Central government will have to build consensus. This issue is not in the interest of any party but the nation. It (One Nation, One Election) will be a game-changer–it’s not my opinion but that of economists, who believe that after its implementation, the country’s GDP will rise by 1-1.5 per cent.”
Reacting to the Union Cabinet move , West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote on X , The Union Cabinet has bulldozed their way through with the unconstitutional and anti-federal One Nation, One Election Bill, ignoring every legitimate concern raised by experts and opposition leaders.
The Union Cabinet has bulldozed their way through with the unconstitutional and anti-federal One Nation, One Election Bill, ignoring every legitimate concern raised by experts and opposition leaders.
This is not a carefully-considered reform; it’s an authoritarian imposition…
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) December 12, 2024
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin wrote on X, The Union Cabinet has approved introducing the draconian ‘One Nation, One Election Bill’ in Parliament. This impractical and anti-democratic move will erase regional voices, erode federalism, and disrupt governance.
The Union Cabinet has approved introducing the draconian ‘One Nation, One Election Bill’ in Parliament. This impractical and anti-democratic move will erase regional voices, erode federalism, and disrupt governance.
Rise up #INDIA!
Let us resist this attack on Indian Democracy…
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) December 12, 2024
General Secretary in-charge Communications, Indian National Congress, Jairam Ramesh told ANI , “The bill will be presented in the Parliament and we want it to be sent to the JPC. The INC’s stand was made clear last year itself by party president Mallikarjun Kharge when he sent a four-page letter to former President Ram Nath Kovind’s committee on One Nation One Election…”
