“Unashamed Attack On Democracy”: TMC’S Abhishek Banerjee On One Nation One Election Bill

After the Narendra Modi government introduced the One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment Bill, 2024 today in the lower house of the Parliament ahead of the introduction of One Nation One Election bill, Lok Sabha member and general secretary of Trinamool Congress, Abhishek Banerjee called the move “nothing short of an unashamed attack on democracy”. The TMC leader also said the One Nation One Election bill “robs the people of their fundamental right to vote regularly — a right that holds governments accountable and prevents unchecked power.”
Law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced a bill further to amend the Constitution of India, as reported earlier that the NDA government will table the One Nation One Election bill today in the Parliament.

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Here is what Mr Banerjee said: “The BJP’s brazen attempt to introduce a Constitutional Amendment Bill today, while the constitution debate is still underway in Parliament, is nothing short of an unashamed attack on democracy. The One Nation One Election bill seeks to rob the people of their fundamental right to vote regularly — a right that holds governments accountable and prevents unchecked power. This is not just a bill rather it is a direct assault on the very foundation of our democracy built through the sacrifices of our founding fathers. Bengal will not sit silent. We will fight tooth and nail to protect the soul of India and crush this anti-democratic agenda. Bring it on!.”
Last week, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ plan and the rumour was rife as that government was all set to introduce a bill during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.

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The ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative, which was opposed by many including the Opposition parties and states, aims to synchronise elections across the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, and local bodies, reducing the frequency of polls and ensuring smoother governance.
Proponents argue that the move will foster social cohesion, enhance voter participation, and deepen democratic principles, addressing inefficiencies in the current system. On the other hand, the Opposition claimed that the ruling government is trying to dismantle the federal structure and the diverse nature of Indian democracy.