Parliament LIVE: BJP to Issue Notices to 20 MPs for Skipping ONOE Bill Voting

Parliament LIVE: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intends to send notices to 20 absentee MPs during the voting on a bill named as "One Nation, One Election", which was tabled in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

The BJP had issued a three-line whip to all its MPs in the Lok Sabha to be present in the House today. The two bills which pave the way for simultaneous Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections were then introduced in the Lower House.

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The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill- After nearly 90 minutes of debate, Meghwal introduced the bill in Lok Sabha, followed by a division of votes. In total, 269 members voted in favor of the Bill while 198 said no.

Meghwal has proposed The Union Territories Amendment Bill, which wants to synchronize elections in the Union territories of Puducherry, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir with the Lok Sabha polls. The bill has been thrashed out to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for more discussions.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had favored the bills being referred to a joint committee of Parliament for wider deliberation at every level.

"Detailed discussions can take place in the JPC. The report of the JPC will be approved by the Cabinet. Then again, there will be a discussion on this (bills) in the House," Shah said.

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Opposition slams 'One Nation, One Election' Bill

The opposition parties slammed the 'One Nation, One Election' bill calling it 'against federalism.'

Congress member Manish Tewari opposed the introduction of the bills and termed it an assault on the basic structure doctrine, which mandates certain features of the Constitution are beyond the amending power of Parliament.

"One of the essential features is federalism and the structure of our democracy. The bills assault the basic structure of the Constitution and exceed the legislative competence of this House," Tewari, a former Union minister, said.

The DMK's Baalu and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) member Supriya Sule favoured referring the bills to a parliamentary committee, if they could not be withdrawn, PTI reported.

"This Bill is aimed at maximising political gain and convenience. This Bill will finish off regional parties," All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi said.

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