Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is likely to be part of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) formed to deliberate on the One Nation-One Election Bill. According to sources, Congress leaders Manish Tewari, Sukhdeo Bhagat, and Randeep Singh Surjewala are also expected to join the committee. The JPC was set up after the bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, was referred for detailed discussions following significant opposition backlash.
The One Nation-One Election Bill aims to align the electoral processes of the central and state governments, proposing simultaneous elections across the country. However, the opposition has strongly criticized the bill, calling it unconstitutional and against the spirit of federalism. Speaking to the media outside Parliament, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stated, “This bill is unconstitutional and a direct assault on the federal structure of our democracy. We oppose it firmly.”
The government, on its part, is seeking consensus with the opposition on the bill, which is why it has been referred to the JPC. After its introduction in the Lok Sabha, the bill underwent electronic voting. The initial round of voting saw 220 votes in favor and 149 against. Following opposition protests, a second round of voting was conducted through ballots. This time, the bill received 269 votes in favor and 198 votes against.
Despite these numbers, the government faces a significant challenge in securing the required majority for the bill’s passage. A constitutional amendment bill requires a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament. With 543 members in the Lok Sabha, the government needs the support of 362 Members of Parliament to pass the bill. However, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) currently has only 292 seats. Similarly, in the Rajya Sabha, the required two-thirds majority is 164 votes, but the NDA has just 112 members.
Opposition leaders have labeled the bill as an attack on states’ autonomy and federal principles enshrined in the Constitution. They argue that the bill centralizes power and undermines the ability of states to govern independently. The government, however, maintains that the bill is aimed at reducing electoral costs and administrative inefficiencies by synchronizing elections.
As the JPC prepares to examine the bill, its deliberations will be critical in determining the future of this ambitious proposal. The government will need to address opposition concerns and build a broader consensus to advance the bill in both houses of Parliament.
