Who's Supporting, Who's Opposing One Nation One Election Bill?

The bill to formulate One Nation One Election, which was tabled in the ongoing winter session of Parliament on Tuesday, December 17, have become the latest debate between Congress and the NDA alliance. While the BJP and its NDA partners back the bill, the INDA bloc consisting of Shiv Sena UBT, Samajwadi Party, and Congress have opposed it. 

Over 32 parties are supporting the Bill of One Nation One Election, and only 15 opposition parties are opposing the move. South Indian parties like Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSRCP, BRS, and AIADMK have also backed the legislation that would enable simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha as well as state assemblies.

Also Read | 'One Nation, One Election': Congress opposes introduction of Bill, gives notice in LS.

Congress spokesperson and MP Jairam Ramesh said the party would "firmly, totally, comprehensively" oppose the introduction of the bills. Ramesh said the BJP's real objective was to bring a "new Constitution". "We believe it's unconstitutional. We believe it goes against the basic structure, and it is meant to throttle democracy and accountability in this country," Ramesh said.

Shiv Sena UBT

"'वन नेशन, वन इलेक्शन' फिर से सत्ता के केंद्रीकरण के बहाने लाया जा रहा है। चुनाव प्रक्रिया में हस्तक्षेप करना और संघीय व्यवस्था के खिलाफ काम करना केंद्र सरकार का सत्ताकेंद्रीकरण का तरीका है। यह कितना लागत प्रभावी होगा, यह अभी स्पष्ट नहीं है।": @priyankac19pic.twitter.com/XtqGVqpoTW

— Office Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@Priyanka_Office) December 17, 2024

Shiv Sena UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said the bill was against the Constitution. "It is an attack on the Constitution. It is tampering with the election process. The BJP wants to centralise power. We don't know how cost-effective it will be. We will oppose this bill," she said.

Samajwadi Party (SP)

प्रिय देश-प्रदेशवासियों, पत्रकारों, सच्चे लोकतंत्र के सभी सच्चे पक्षधरों से अपील।

‘एक देश-एक चुनाव’ के संदर्भ में जन-जागरण के लिए आपसे कुछ ज़रूरी बातें साझा कर रहा हूँ। इन सब बिंदुओं को ध्यान से पढ़िएगा क्योंकि इनका बहुत गहरा संबंध हमारे देश, प्रदेश, समाज, परिवार और हर एक…

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) December 17, 2024

Samajwadi Party stated that it would oppose the legislation. "In a way, this is another conspiracy to destroy the Constitution," Akhilesh Yadav tweeted. 

Trinamool Congress (TMC)

The BJP’s brazen attempt to introduce a CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BILL today, WHILE THE CONSTITUTION DEBATE IS STILL UNDERWAY in Parliament, is nothing short of an unashamed attack on democracy. The One Nation One Election bill seeks to ROB THE PEOPLE OF THEIR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT to… pic.twitter.com/ubSbQiS8sZ

— Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) December 17, 2024

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) said the party would oppose the One Nation One Election bill "tooth and nail". "The bill will rob the people of their fundamental right to vote regularly, a right that holds governments accountable and prevents unchecked power," TMP MP Abhishek Banerjee tweeted.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said he and his party will oppose the bill. Stalin said that the bills, if passed, would eliminate the system of periodic state elections, thereby undermining regional sentiments. 

TDP, YSR Congress Bill on One Nation One Election

One Nation One Election bill got support from NDA partners like Chandrababu Naidu's TDP, JD(S) and fence-sitters like YSRCP. YSRCP MP PV Mithun Reddy said the party did not have any issues with simultaneous polls. "We are already having simultaneous state elections with general elections. We don't have much issues. We will support the bill," he said.