Jodhpur (Rajasthan) [India], December 22 : Former Union Minister and ex-Chief of Army Staff, General VK Singh, emphasized on Sunday that extensive discussions have already taken place regarding the One Nation, One Election Bill. He highlighted that the bill has now been referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee, which will thoroughly review the proposal and drive it forward for further consideration and implementation.
"A lot of serious discussion has been held on this and the committee chaired by former President Kovind ji discussed it. This bill came in the Parliament and now a Joint Committee has been formed which will discuss everything and take it forward," VK Singh told the media at Jodhpur Airport.
Meanwhile, the bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha, proposes simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies across India.
It has been sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee to have a deep discussion on the bill.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee to examine the 'One Nation, One Election' Bill will have 21 members from Lok Sabha including Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Manish Tewari, NCP's Supriya Sule, TMC's Kalyan Banerjee and BJP's PP Chaudhary, Bansuri Swaraj and Anurag Singh Thakur.
The 31-member panel will have 10 members from Rajya Sabha.
Opposition members have opposed the amendments, and have argued that the proposed change could disproportionately benefit the ruling party, giving it undue influence over the electoral process in states, and undermining the autonomy of regional parties.
In a post on X, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that the bill is not a "carefully-considered reform", but an "authoritarian imposition".
"The Union Cabinet has bulldozed their way through with the unconstitutional and anti-federal One Nation, One Election Bill, ignoring every legitimate concern raised by experts and opposition leaders. This is not a carefully considered reform; it's an authoritarian imposition designed to undermine India's democracy and federal structure," she said.
"Our MPs will oppose this draconian legislation tooth and nail in Parliament. Bengal will NEVER bow to Delhi's dictatorial whims. This fight is about saving India's democracy from the clutches of autocracy!" Mamata Banerjee added.