New Delhi [India]: Congress MP Jairam Ramesh has urged that the proposed ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), arguing that the legislation undermines democracy and violates the Constitution’s basic structure.
“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 that we oppose the bill,” Ramesh told ANI.
He further asserted, “It is against democracy and the basic structure of the Constitution.”
The Union Cabinet, on Thursday, approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill, marking a significant step towards the potential implementation of simultaneous elections across the country. The bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament soon.
Earlier, former President Ram Nath Kovind emphasized the need for consensus on the initiative, describing it as beneficial for the nation beyond political interests. Kovind, who chairs the committee examining the proposal, highlighted its potential economic benefits.
“The Central government must build consensus. This is not about any party’s interests but about the nation’s welfare. Economists believe that implementing One Nation, One Election could boost the country’s GDP by 1-1.5 per cent,” Kovind stated.
In September, the Union Cabinet approved the proposal to synchronize elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, urban bodies, and panchayats within 100 days. The recommendations were detailed in a report by a high-level panel chaired by Kovind.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the approval, calling it a milestone in enhancing Indian democracy.
“The Cabinet has accepted the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections. I commend former President Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji for leading this effort and consulting a broad spectrum of stakeholders. This is a significant step towards making our democracy more vibrant and participative,” PM Modi posted on X.