Shiv Sena UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi opposes ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill

New Delhi: Shiv Sena UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi called the “One Nation, One Election” Bill an effort to centralize authority at the cost of federalism and the Constitution, and she voiced her opposition to it on Tuesday.

“The One Nation, One Election is being brought in the guise of centralizing power again,” Chaturvedi said in an interview with the media, criticizing the measure. She noted that Parliament is debating this matter in great depth and that the Lok Sabha has already devoted two days to a thorough discussion of the Constitution. The Rajya Sabha is anticipated to continue the conversation.

“It is very regrettable to attack the Constitution in this way,” Chaturvedi said. One method the central government might consolidate power is by interfering with the electoral process and acting against federalism. Concerning the possible expenses, she said that it is yet unknown how cost-effective the bill would be.

The UBT leader claims that the law violates the Constitution and is incorrect. “How cost-effective it will be is yet unknown…”I think it is wrong and against the Constitution, and it is very likely that the opposition will strongly oppose it when it is introduced in the Lok Sabha, and it will be sent to the JPC or the select committee,” she said.

The “One Nation, One Election” Bill, which seeks to hold simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state legislatures across India, has drawn criticism from a number of opposition figures earlier in the day, including members of the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SCP).

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh opposed the measure on Tuesday, claiming it was illegal and a danger to democracy, according to an interview with the media. “The One Nation, One Election Bill is categorically, completely, and utterly rejected by the Congress party. We’ll be against the introduction. He said, “We will insist that it be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee.” Ramesh went on to denounce the law, saying, “We think it’s unconstitutional.” We think it is intended to stifle democracy and accountability in this nation and violates the fundamental framework.”

The head of the Congress also emphasized the party’s long-standing opposition to the proposal. “Mallikarjun Kharge had written to former President Ramnath Kovind on January 17 on why the Congress party is objecting to the very idea of one nation, one election,” he said.
Ramesh claims that the measure is a component of a larger plan to amend India’s Constitution. “A new constitution is the ultimate goal; the One Nation, One Election Bill is only the first step in that direction.

It is one thing to amend the Constitution, but the true goal of the RSS and PM Modi is to introduce a new one,” he said. Ramesh said that the RSS has a history of opposing the Indian Constitution, claiming that Manusmriti is not an inspiration for it. On November 30, 1949, they rejected this Constitution, claiming it was not inspired by Manusmriti ideals, among other things. That is the thing we are against.

NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule, meanwhile, voiced similar concerns and demanded that the measure be discussed by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). “We are requesting that the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) be established and that talks be held. “The JPC is what our party is demanding,” Sule told the media.

Another Congress MP, Pramod Tiwari, questioned the government’s strategy. Discussions on this should have taken place in an all-party meeting, which would have been preferable. However, the administration brought this up to deflect focus from more pressing issues. They are well aware that they lack a majority in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha to amend the constitution,” Tiwari said.

Similar worries were expressed by Congress MP K. Suresh, who emphasized the bill’s purported danger to Indian democracy. “The Congress party is vehemently opposed to this measure and will not accept it. This is detrimental to our federal structure and Indian democracy. For this reason, we will be adamantly against it. He said, “I think NDA allies, TDP, and JD(U) may not openly oppose it, but they don’t want this bill.” “The entire opposition is going to oppose it,” he stated.

The bill was also condemned by Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav, who said, “Our party will oppose it because it is against all sections of the Constitution.”

Manish Tewari, a Congress MP, filed a formal notice opposing the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, being introduced in the Lok Sabha. “My objections to the proposed bill are based on serious concerns regarding constitutionalism and constitutionality,” he said.