Lok Sabha News: Many political parties including BJP and Congress had issued whips to their MPs asking them to be present in the House today i.e. Tuesday in view of the 'One Nation, One Election' bill. However, some BJP MPs were absent on this occasion, so the party has prepared to send notices to its MPs. The government introduced the bill containing the provision of holding Lok Sabha and assembly elections simultaneously in the country in the lower house on Tuesday amid strong opposition from the opposition parties and said that it would be sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for extensive discussion on it.

BJP can issue notice to about 20 MPs

Sources have revealed that the BJP is likely to issue notices to around 20 MPs who were absent during the voting on the 'One Nation, One Election' bill in the Lok Sabha today, even as a whip was issued to all BJP MPs to remain present in the House.

'One country, one election' bill introduced in Lok Sabha

The government on Tuesday introduced the bill (One Nation, One Election) in the lower house i.e. Lok Sabha, which provides for holding Lok Sabha and assembly elections simultaneously in the country. It will be sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for extensive discussion on it. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the 'Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024' and the related 'Union Territory Law (Amendment) Bill, 2024', which provides for holding Lok Sabha and assembly elections simultaneously in the country, in the lower house, which was strongly opposed by the opposition parties.

After the division of votes in the House, the 'Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024' was introduced. 269 votes were cast in favour of introducing the bill, while 198 votes were cast against it. After this, Meghwal also introduced the 'Union Territory Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024' after the consent of the House by voice vote. After the introduction of both the bills, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla adjourned the proceedings of the House till 3 pm at around 1.55 pm. This was the first time that an electronic division of votes was held on a bill in the new House.

Amid opposition parties' opposition to the bill, Home Minister Amit Shah said that when the bill came up for discussion in the Cabinet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself had expressed the intention that it should be sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for consideration. Congress and other opposition parties opposed the introduction of the bill, alleging that it was an attack on the basic structure of the Constitution. They also said that the bill should be sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee. Major allies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Shiv Sena supported the bill. Law Minister Meghwal said that the proposed bill related to holding simultaneous elections is not going to take away the powers of the states, but this bill is completely constitutional. He also agreed to the opposition's demand to send the bill to the JPC.