‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill Likely To Introduce In The Parliament: Report (image:x.com/election95291)
New Delhi: The Union government may introduce Bill for ‘One Nation One Election’ initiative in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, according to reports. The initiative meant to conduct simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and local bodies in a phased manner.
The sources states that once the bill or bills are introduced in Parliament, it is likely to be referred to a joint committee of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha for extensive consultations. The government is also intent to consult all the Speakers of various state legislative assemblies through committees.
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The Union Cabinet has already accepted the recommendations of former President Ram Nath Kovind-led high-level committee on the matter.
In September, the government had denoted that it plans to bring three Bills, including two to amend the Constitution. With regarding the simultaneous elections, one of the proposed Bills would propose to amend Article 82A by inserting sub-clause (1) relating to the ‘appointed date,’ and it will also attempts to add sub-clause (2) to Article 82A which would suggest the simultaneous end of terms of the Lok Sabha and legislative Assemblies together.
The government also proposes to amend Article 83(2) and add new sub-clauses (3) and (4) regarding the duration and dissolution of the Lok Sabha. It also has arrangements related to dissolution of the legislative Assemblies and amending Article 327 to insert the term “simultaneous elections”.
These amendments to the Constitution Bill will not require ratification by at least 50 percent of the States. However, the second Constitutional amendment bill will require ratification by at least 50 per cent of the state assemblies since it is handling matters relating to state affairs. The Bill also proposes to amend constitutional provisions relating to the preparation of electoral rolls by the Election Commission (EC) in consultation with State Election Commissions (SEC) for elections to local bodies.
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The third Bill will be an ordinary one to amend provisions in three laws dealing with Union Territories possessing legislative Assemblies — Puducherry, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir. It meant to fix the terms of these Houses with other legislative Assemblies and the Lok Sabha as proposed in the first constitutional amendment Bill.
