Parliament Winter Session LIVE: One Nation One Election Bill Tabled In LS, Opposition Calls It Anti People

The government is making efforts continuously to increase the income of farmers and various schemes are in place for it, Union minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said on Tuesday.

The Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister also told the Lok Sabha that the income of farmers is not less than that of the labourers.

Responding to supplementary during the Question Hour, Chauhan said that the government is continuously making efforts to increase the income of farmers and asserted that there will be no shortfall in fertiliser subsidy this year also.

The focus is on increasing production, reducing the cost of production and ensuring adequate prices for the produce, among others.

Earlier, Speaker Om Birla welcomed representatives from Armenia who were present in the House. They are on a visit to India.

Opposing the bills at the introductory stage, Manish Tewari of the Congress said they are against the basic structure as enshrined in the Constitution.

Members can oppose any bill at the introduction stage. Following this, the bill is introduced by the minister concerned through a voice vote.

Dharmendra Yadav (SP) said the bill is an attack on the federal structure outlined by the framers of the Constitution.

He said while a set of assembly polls cannot be held together, the government is talking of one nation, one election.

T R Baalu of the DMK questioned the expenditure it will entail in holding the massive exercise.

Kalyan Banerjee of the TMC said it hits the basic structure of the Constitution. He said the proposed insertion of an article is contrary to the present Constitution.

TDP's Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani supported the bill, saying his party extends unwavering support to the proposal.

The note issued by the Ministry Of Law and Justice read:

India’s democratic framework thrives on the vibrancy of its electoral process, enabling citizens to actively shape governance at every level. Since independence, over 400 elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies have showcased the Election Commission of India’s commitment to fairness and transparency. However, the fragmented and frequent nature of elections has sparked discussions on the need for a more efficient system. This has led to the resurgence of interest in the concept of "One Nation, One Election."

The High-Level Committee Report on Simultaneous Elections in India, released in 2024, provided a comprehensive roadmap for implementing this vision. Its recommendations were accepted by the Union Cabinet on 18th September 2024, marking a significant step towards electoral reform. Proponents argue that such a system could enhance administrative efficiency, reduce election-related expenditures, and promote policy continuity. As India aspires to streamline governance and optimise its democratic processes, the concept of "One Nation, One Election" has emerged as a key reform requiring thoughtful deliberation and consensus.

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Tuesday moved in the Lok Sabha two bills which lay down the mechanism to hold simultaneous polls in the country, with the opposition dubbing the draft laws as an attack on the basic structure.

Meghwal moved for the introduction of the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, popularly referred to as the Bill on "One Nation, one election" and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to align the elections of the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry and the NCT of Delhi.

Key Points

• Nation indebted to Constituent assembly members who shaped our Constitution
• Architects of Constitution knew this was not a nation in making, it was always a nation
• India is not just the largest democracy, but the mother of democracy
• As per Indian ethos, democracy comprises freedom, acceptability, equality and inclusivity, allowing citizens to lead a dignified life

With profound grief, I refer to the passing away of renowned tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, said Chairman of Rajya Sabha in the upper House.

As the 'One Nation One Election' Bill is to be introduced in the Lok Sabha today Samajvadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav termed the word 'one' as undemocratic. In a detailed post on X, he wrote: "In democratic contexts, the word 'one' itself is undemocratic. Democracy favours plurality. The feeling of 'one' has no place for others. This violates social tolerance. The feeling of 'one' at the individual level gives birth to ego and turns power into dictatorship."

Proceedings of both the houses of parliament began at 11 am on Tuesday.

On One Nation, One Election Bill, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, "One Nation, One Election is a very important issue for the nation. It's not for the party or any other individual, it's for the country. When the bill for One Nation, One Election will be introduced, I hope that the country will see Congress play a negative game. When India got independence, for 2 decades India had One Nation, One Election. It was only after Congress misused Article 356, then there were different elections between Parliament and some of the states...Does Congress mean to say that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's government for so long was illegal because that time, it was One Nation, One Election?...Does Congress mean that the country should keep on conducting elections month after month for 5 years? We must understand that we hold the election to serve the country and the people of this country..."

On One Nation One Election, Congress MP Manish Tewari said, "It militates against the basic structure of the constitution. India is a union of states, so therefore you cannot arbitrarily cut short the tenure of state assemblies. The fundamental principles of federalism envisage that the centre and the state are equal partners in the Indian constitutional scheme. How can you make the tenure of the state assemblies subject to the tenure of the national parliament? Under what provision of the Constitution do you get that leverage? So therefore there are very fundamental constitutional questions involved. That is why this bill is being opposed consistently or this idea has been opposed consistently since its inception...What is against the constitutional scheme is against the constitutional scheme, and under those circumstances, if you try and push it through, you will essentially be putting unconstitutional legislation through Parliament"

The Shiv Sena has issued a whip to its Lok Sabha members, asking them to remain present in the House on Tuesday, amid the bill for holding simultaneous polls listed for introduction in the Lower House of Parliament.

Sena MP Shrirang Barne, who is the party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha, issued the whip saying "some very important issue/legislative business" is to be discussed and passed in the House.

The Shiv Sena, led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, is an ally of the BJP.

A constitutional amendment bill for holding the Lok Sabha and assembly elections simultaneously has been listed for introduction in the Lower House on Tuesday and could be referred to a joint committee of the two Houses.

The Lok Sabha agenda said the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, popularly being referred to as the Bill on "one nation, one election", will be introduced by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.

After its introduction, Meghwal will request Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to refer the Bill to a Joint Committee of Parliament for wider consultations.

The minister will also introduce the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to align the elections of the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry and the NCT of Delhi.

The joint panel will be constituted on a pro-rata basis, based on the strength of MPs of various parties.

As the largest party, the BJP will get the chairmanship of the committee, besides several members, a functionary said on Monday.

Last week, the Union Cabinet decided to hold simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies but opted to leave "as of now" how local body polls will be held.

The Lok Sabha agenda said the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, popularly referred to as the Bill on "One Nation, One Election", will be introduced by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. After its introduction, Meghwal will request Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to refer the Bill to a Joint Committee of Parliament for wider consultations.

The minister will also introduce the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to align the elections of the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry and the NCT of Delhi.

The government is making efforts continuously to increase the income of farmers and various schemes are in place for it, Union minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said on Tuesday.

The Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister also told the Lok Sabha that the income of farmers is not less than that of the labourers.

Responding to supplementary during the Question Hour, Chauhan said that the government is continuously making efforts to increase the income of farmers and asserted that there will be no shortfall in fertiliser subsidy this year also.

The focus is on increasing production, reducing the cost of production and ensuring adequate prices for the produce, among others.

Earlier, Speaker Om Birla welcomed representatives from Armenia who were present in the House. They are on a visit to India.

Opposing the bills at the introductory stage, Manish Tewari of the Congress said they are against the basic structure as enshrined in the Constitution.

Members can oppose any bill at the introduction stage. Following this, the bill is introduced by the minister concerned through a voice vote.

Dharmendra Yadav (SP) said the bill is an attack on the federal structure outlined by the framers of the Constitution.

He said while a set of assembly polls cannot be held together, the government is talking of one nation, one election.

T R Baalu of the DMK questioned the expenditure it will entail in holding the massive exercise.

Kalyan Banerjee of the TMC said it hits the basic structure of the Constitution. He said the proposed insertion of an article is contrary to the present Constitution.

TDP's Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani supported the bill, saying his party extends unwavering support to the proposal.

The note issued by the Ministry Of Law and Justice read:

India’s democratic framework thrives on the vibrancy of its electoral process, enabling citizens to actively shape governance at every level. Since independence, over 400 elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies have showcased the Election Commission of India’s commitment to fairness and transparency. However, the fragmented and frequent nature of elections has sparked discussions on the need for a more efficient system. This has led to the resurgence of interest in the concept of "One Nation, One Election."

The High-Level Committee Report on Simultaneous Elections in India, released in 2024, provided a comprehensive roadmap for implementing this vision. Its recommendations were accepted by the Union Cabinet on 18th September 2024, marking a significant step towards electoral reform. Proponents argue that such a system could enhance administrative efficiency, reduce election-related expenditures, and promote policy continuity. As India aspires to streamline governance and optimise its democratic processes, the concept of "One Nation, One Election" has emerged as a key reform requiring thoughtful deliberation and consensus.

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Tuesday moved in the Lok Sabha two bills which lay down the mechanism to hold simultaneous polls in the country, with the opposition dubbing the draft laws as an attack on the basic structure.

Meghwal moved for the introduction of the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, popularly referred to as the Bill on "One Nation, one election" and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to align the elections of the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry and the NCT of Delhi.

Key Points

• Nation indebted to Constituent assembly members who shaped our Constitution
• Architects of Constitution knew this was not a nation in making, it was always a nation
• India is not just the largest democracy, but the mother of democracy
• As per Indian ethos, democracy comprises freedom, acceptability, equality and inclusivity, allowing citizens to lead a dignified life

With profound grief, I refer to the passing away of renowned tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, said Chairman of Rajya Sabha in the upper House.

As the 'One Nation One Election' Bill is to be introduced in the Lok Sabha today Samajvadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav termed the word 'one' as undemocratic. In a detailed post on X, he wrote: "In democratic contexts, the word 'one' itself is undemocratic. Democracy favours plurality. The feeling of 'one' has no place for others. This violates social tolerance. The feeling of 'one' at the individual level gives birth to ego and turns power into dictatorship."

Proceedings of both the houses of parliament began at 11 am on Tuesday.

On One Nation, One Election Bill, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, "One Nation, One Election is a very important issue for the nation. It's not for the party or any other individual, it's for the country. When the bill for One Nation, One Election will be introduced, I hope that the country will see Congress play a negative game. When India got independence, for 2 decades India had One Nation, One Election. It was only after Congress misused Article 356, then there were different elections between Parliament and some of the states...Does Congress mean to say that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's government for so long was illegal because that time, it was One Nation, One Election?...Does Congress mean that the country should keep on conducting elections month after month for 5 years? We must understand that we hold the election to serve the country and the people of this country..."

On One Nation One Election, Congress MP Manish Tewari said, "It militates against the basic structure of the constitution. India is a union of states, so therefore you cannot arbitrarily cut short the tenure of state assemblies. The fundamental principles of federalism envisage that the centre and the state are equal partners in the Indian constitutional scheme. How can you make the tenure of the state assemblies subject to the tenure of the national parliament? Under what provision of the Constitution do you get that leverage? So therefore there are very fundamental constitutional questions involved. That is why this bill is being opposed consistently or this idea has been opposed consistently since its inception...What is against the constitutional scheme is against the constitutional scheme, and under those circumstances, if you try and push it through, you will essentially be putting unconstitutional legislation through Parliament"

The Shiv Sena has issued a whip to its Lok Sabha members, asking them to remain present in the House on Tuesday, amid the bill for holding simultaneous polls listed for introduction in the Lower House of Parliament.

Sena MP Shrirang Barne, who is the party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha, issued the whip saying "some very important issue/legislative business" is to be discussed and passed in the House.

The Shiv Sena, led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, is an ally of the BJP.

A constitutional amendment bill for holding the Lok Sabha and assembly elections simultaneously has been listed for introduction in the Lower House on Tuesday and could be referred to a joint committee of the two Houses.

The Lok Sabha agenda said the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, popularly being referred to as the Bill on "one nation, one election", will be introduced by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal.

After its introduction, Meghwal will request Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to refer the Bill to a Joint Committee of Parliament for wider consultations.

The minister will also introduce the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to align the elections of the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry and the NCT of Delhi.

The joint panel will be constituted on a pro-rata basis, based on the strength of MPs of various parties.

As the largest party, the BJP will get the chairmanship of the committee, besides several members, a functionary said on Monday.

Last week, the Union Cabinet decided to hold simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies but opted to leave "as of now" how local body polls will be held.

The Lok Sabha agenda said the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, popularly referred to as the Bill on "One Nation, One Election", will be introduced by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. After its introduction, Meghwal will request Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to refer the Bill to a Joint Committee of Parliament for wider consultations.

The minister will also introduce the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to align the elections of the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry and the NCT of Delhi.