Centre likely to delay tabling ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill in Lok Sabha

The union cabinet approved the bills in a meeting held on Thursday. Parties in the INDIA bloc are opposed to 'One Nation, One Election'

Ram Nath Kovind and Droupadi Murmu (File) Former president Ram Nath Kovind presents President Droupadi Murmu a report on conducting simultaneous polls | ANI

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government is likely to delay tabling bills related to its ambitious ‘One Nation, One Election’ in Lok Sabha. The Centre is reportedly prioritising financial businesses and the bills could be introduced later this week.

According to reports, bills related to ‘One Nation, One Election’ will be taken after the completion of financial business. Though two bills—The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and The Union Territories Laws (Amendment)  Bill—were listed for introduction in the Lok Sabha on Monday, they have been removed from the revised list.

However, the Centre can introduce bills through 'Supplementary List of Business' with the permission of the Lok Sabha speaker. The Union cabinet approved the bills in a meeting held at Parliament premises on Thursday. The drafts of the bills were circulated among members on Friday.

The Winter session of Parliament is scheduled to conclude on December 20 and the discussion on the bills could be the next flashpoint between the Centre and the opposition in Parliament. House proceedings were disrupted both in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha since the beginning of winter session after the opposition protested demanding discussion on several issues including the Adani bribery case, Manipur violence and Sambhal clashes. The opposition also opposed leaders of the BJP levelling accusations against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi over her alleged links with American George Soros and accused her of joining hands with forces trying to destabilise the Indian government.

Like the abrogation of Article 370 and the construction of Ayodhya Ram Mandir, ‘One Nation, One Election’ is another key promise of the BJP. The new amendment bills were drafted as per recommendations of an expert panel headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind.

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