- विज्ञापन -
Karnataka: The senior congress leaders and former Law Minister, M. Veerappa Moily on Tuesday slammed the BJP- led central government for pushing the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill (ONOE Bill) in the Lok Sabha, adding the current administration has little understanding of the nation’s historical context.
Speaking with the media, the former Law Minister, M. Veerappa Moily accused Prime Minister Modi for using ONOE to advance his political interests. “This government seems to have a complete lack of understanding of our country’s history. They are trying to create the impression that the ONOE Bill is a new concept, something revolutionary. But this is far from the truth. From 1952 until 1967, simultaneous elections for both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies were held. The Congress and other political parties did not oppose this at the time. However, it was done due to historical reasons, not because of any specific political ideology,” he told the media.
He also explained that elections in India are often influenced by unforeseen circumstances, such as Assemblies or even the Parliament being dissolved prematurely. “Hurrying the proposal could lead to more confusion instead of solving problems.”
“Assemblies sometimes dissolve before their term ends, or Parliament elections are held ahead of schedule. These historical events have shaped how our elections have been conducted. The present government seems eager to exploit these incidents for political gain,” he continued.
“Prime Minister Modi seems to believe that by reducing the frequency of elections, he will save money and prevent the ‘multiplicity of elections.’ But this is not a new idea; it’s merely a historical reality. To suggest that late PM Jawaharlal Nehru wanted elections split for the advantage of his party is wrong. Everything that was done was for national interest, not political advantage,” Moily remarked.
He added that PM Modi’s push for this idea is not about national welfare, but about enhancing his own image.
“If Modi thinks that having just one election will help perpetuate his image, it’s a mere daydream. A move like this won’t bolster Modi’s ego, as he may believe. The idea should have been discussed with the Opposition parties because elections are not just for the ruling party; they are for the entire nation. This is the real issue,” Moily said.
Furthermore, Moily criticised the speed at which the Union government is trying to push through this proposal, stating that the central government lacks the majority needed to pass the Bill in both Houses of Parliament.
“You can’t rush this through. There’s no absolute majority in the Houses for this Bill. The right thing to do is open this up for a national debate. A good Bill can only come from proper discussions, and it requires consensus on various issues, not just one. The country needs time to reflect on this important change,” he said.
Notably the Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Constitution Amendment Bill or ONOE Bill in the Lok Sabha earlier today.
