One Nation One Election violates federalism, people's will: Singhvi

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Singhvi termed the concept of ONOE as a serious violation of federalism, hence of the basic structure at the state level.

He further said it was a serious violation of the will of the people, hence of the electoral process, democracy and of the basic structure at the Central level.

Thirdly, he opposed the concept for the absence of state ratification on issues affecting electoral cycles of not only states, but of the representation of the states of Rajya Sabha based on those cycles, rendering an Amendment without such ratification void.

The three points were part of a long submission made by Singhvi (a copy of which is with The Tribune) before the joint parliamentary panel, headed by BJP MP PP Chaudhary.

A Congress Rajya Sabha MP, Singhvi, had been invited by the parliamentary panel as a legal expert to give his inputs on ONOE. He told the panel that though he initially supported the ONOE concept, on deeper consideration, he now opposes it on the aforementioned counts.

Congress’ Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also present in the meeting, as a member of the parliamentary panel.

Earlier, BS Chauhan, former Supreme Court Judge and ex-chairman of the 21 Law Commission, who too had deposed the panel, supported ONOE concept, as he is learnt to have told the committee that any change in an existing system is good and there is no harm in implementing it, sources privy to the development said.

However at the same time, Chauhan is said to have indicated to the panel that if need arises, then changes can be made in ONOE in future, they informed further.

The joint committee also heard the views of another former Supreme Court judge Hemant Gupta on the matter.

ONOE is a concept that proposes holding elections for the Lok Sabha and all state legislative assemblies at the same time, once every five years. Currently, elections are held at different times throughout the year as various state governments complete their terms.

The idea behind this proposal is to streamline the electoral process, reduce government spending, and allow elected leaders to focus more on governance rather than constantly being in campaign mode.

The 39-member joint parliamentary committee comprises of 27 members from the Lok Sabha and 12 members from the Rajya Sabha.

The parliamentary committee scrutinising the two bills for simultaneous elections is to submit its report on ONOE by the first day of the last week of monsoon session.

Meanwhile, in a unique development during the joint panel meeting, the Opposition Congress and Trinamool Congress as well as the BJP members found themselves in unison, when chairman and BJP MP PP Chaudhary, another BJP Lok Sabha MP Sambit Patra as well as Congress Rajya Sabha MP Mukul Wasnik took TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee's suggestion that conducting elections should be the last option if a government falls mid-term, in a positive manner.

The Opposition, Banerjee said, should be given a chance to form the government, in case an elected government falls, as holding elections is not always feasible, if the tenure of the government is short.

Members across party line, are learnt to have endorsed Banerjee's views, sources informed.