On Tuesday, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal tabled two constitutional amendment bills in the Lok Sabha, proposing simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. 

The move sparked intense debate in the House, with the Opposition demanding a division of votes during the introduction of the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The bills were introduced with 269 MPs voting in favor and 198 against.

The introduction of the bills triggered strong objections from Congress, the Samajwadi Party, and the Trinamool Congress. 

Congress MP Manish Tewari criticized the proposal, arguing that simultaneous elections undermine the Constitution’s basic structure doctrine. "The introduction and consideration of the 'One Nation, One Election' bills exceed the legislative competence of this House. I urge the government to withdraw them," Tewari said in the Lok Sabha.

“I am not able to understand just two days ago, no stone was left unturned in the glorious tradition of saving the Constitution. Within two days, the Constitution Amendment Bill has been brought to an end the basic spirit & the basic structure of the Constitution. I agree with Manish Tewari, & on behalf of my party & my leader Akhilesh Yadav, I have no hesitation in saying that there was no one more learned than the makers of our Constitution at that time; even in this House, there was no one more learned, I have no hesitation in saying this…” the SP MP said, according to ANI.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee joined the chorus of opposition, sharply criticizing the bills. He alleged that the proposed legislation was not aimed at electoral reforms but was instead “a fulfillment of one gentleman's desire and dream.”

“This proposed bill hits the basic structure of the Constitution itself & if any bill any actual which hits the basic structure of the Constitution that is ultra vires...We must remember that the state government & the state legislative assembly are not subordinate to the Central government or to the Parliament itself…” Banerjee was quoted as saying by ANI.

Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav also opposed the bills, accusing the BJP of attempting to impose a "dictatorship" through the simultaneous poll framework.

The idea of 'One Nation, One Election' was first proposed by the central government and backed by a High-Level Committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind in March this year. The proposal suggests conducting simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and State legislative assemblies.

In its report, the Committee highlighted the widespread support for simultaneous elections, noting that it could accelerate development and strengthen democratic processes across the country.

While some constitutional amendments required for simultaneous elections will need ratification by state legislatures, others can be implemented through Parliament without state approval, the report states.

On September 18, the Union Cabinet accepted the recommendations of the High-Level Committee.

Importantly, four former Chief Justices of India (CJIs) who were consulted by the Committee voiced their support for the proposal. Former CJIs Dipak Misra, Ranjan Gogoi, Sharad Arvind Bobde, and UU Lalit participated in consultations, both in person and through written responses, all expressing their backing for simultaneous elections.