Historic first: 369 MPs participate in electronic voting for ONOE Bill in LS, Oppn’s criticism falls short

New Delhi, Dec 17: The 129th Constitution Amendment Bill, also known as the ‘One Nation, One Election’ (ONOE) Bill, was successfully introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, with 263 Members of Parliament (MPs) voting in favour and 198 voting against the motion.

The bill aims to synchronise national and state elections across India, but its introduction sparked significant debate, particularly among opposition parties.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal presented the bill in the house, marking a historic moment as it was the first time that the new Lok Sabha chamber used automatic vote recording machines for this purpose. A total of 369 MPs recorded their votes electronically, while 92 votes were cast using paper slips. Of the paper votes, 43 were in favour of the bill, while 49 were against it.

While the majority supported the motion, the voting process itself became a point of contention. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi raised concerns over a technical failure during the electronic voting process. In a post on X, Gogoi criticised the failure of the electronic voting system and emphasised that the paper votes provided an accurate tally. However, data from the Parliament contradicted Gogoi's claims. The official tally showed 263 votes in favour and 198 against, with the bill passing successfully.

The electronic voting process, despite initial hiccups, was the primary means by which MPs recorded their votes.

The bill has divided political parties, with the ruling BJP and its allies supporting it, while opposition groups vehemently opposed the legislation.

The TDP, a key BJP ally, expressed strong support for the ONOE Bill, arguing that it would reduce India’s fiscal burden and cut electoral expenses by more than 40 per cent.

On the other hand, opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena (UBT), AIMIM, and the Congress, voiced sharp criticism of the bill. They labelled the legislation as an assault on the Constitution and a direct threat to India’s democracy.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi argued that the bill was aimed at undermining regional parties and consolidating power at the centre, a move he described as a step towards authoritarianism and dictatorship.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah dismissed these criticisms, accusing the Congress party of habitually opposing progressive legislation. He defended the ONOE Bill as a necessary reform to streamline elections and reduce electoral costs in the country.