"Huge step towards Parliamentary reforms": Union Minister SP Baghel on One Nation, One Election bill
Dec 17, 2024
New Delhi [India], December 17 : Union Minister SP Singh Baghel welcomed the 'One Nation One Election' Bill which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday calling it a huge step towards Parliamentary reforms.
"The bill has been introduced in the Lok Sabha today and the minister has asked to refer it to the JPC... It is a huge step towards Parliamentary reforms. PM Modi believes in minimum government and maximum governance," he said.
The Union Minister said that the bill aims to synchronize national and state elections, reducing the frequency of elections and the resulting disruptions to governance.
"Because of 'One Nation, One Election', once we get free from elections, we can concentrate on development programs. Otherwise, the Code of Conduct has to be imposed now and then. Development gets halted, inaugurations cannot take place," Baghel said.
Madhya Pradesh Minister Prahlad Singh Patel also welcomed the 'One Nation One Election' bill saying that it is a good step to stop the waste of money and time.
"It is a welcome step taken by the government. It is a good solution to stop waste of money and time," Patel said.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024' and 'The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024' was formally introduced in Lok Sabha after members voted on it. The bill proposes 'One Nation One Election' or simultaneous elections to both Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The bill will be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed discussions.
On Tuesday, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha announced the result of the vote on the introduction of the bill in the house. The vote showed 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, on 'One Nation, One Election' and his agreement to sending the bill to a JPC in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Amit Shah said, "When the One Nation, One Election Bill was taken up in the cabinet for approval, PM Modi had said that it should be sent to the JPC for detailed discussion. If the Law Minister is willing to send the bill to JPC, the discussion on its introduction can end."
Meghwal also introduced a bill to amend the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, as per the day's schedule. These amendments aim to align assembly elections in Delhi, Jammu Kashmir, and Puducherry with the proposed simultaneous elections.