New Delhi [India], December 18 : Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi once again opposed the 'One Nation, One Election' stating that it's against the constitution and federal rights of the people.
Kanimozhi said that the bill would take away the right of the people to elect the state government every five years and pass it on to the election commission.
The government on Tuesday took the first step towards implementing the BJP's long-pending promise of holding simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state Assemblies and introduced One Nation, One Election in Lok Sabha.
"DMK has consistently said that we oppose the entire Bill. We do not accept that there can be One Nation and One Election because it is against the Constitution. It is against federal rights and it is against the will of the people. People choose state governments for 5 years, I don't think you can take that right away from the people and give it to the Election Commission to decide how many years' government can last or not," said Kanimozhi.
"So, this is completely against the state, against federalism and it is against the Constitution because federalism, the federal structure of the Constitution of this country is in the Constitution. This is actually shaking the basic premises of the Constitution itself. So, we do not accept this," added Kanimozhi.
Another DMK leader and Spokesperson TKS Elangovan said, "One Nation One Election is not a practical bill. It is unconstitutional. They want one government. The BJP doesn't want state governments... Do they have the majority to run the government for the next five years?... This government will fall, we are waiting. BJP is planning to remove Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu from politics, and capture Andhra Pradesh and Bihar... Regional parties should understand that this is an attempt to remove them from power..."
Earlier today, 'The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024' and 'The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024' were formally introduced in the Lok Sabha after members voted on it. The bill proposes 'One Nation, One Election,' or simultaneous elections to both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
The bill will now be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further deliberations. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha announced the results of the vote on the introduction of the bill. The vote recorded 269 members in favour (Ayes) and 196 against (Noes).
This followed Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal's formal introduction of the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, and his agreement to send the bill to the JPC, in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement.