Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi critiques the One Nation, One Election Bill, calling it an attack on India’s federal structure. He argues the bill prioritizes cost-cutting over democratic values and raises concerns about the Election Commission’s independence.
New Delhi: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has strongly criticized the One Nation, One Election (ONOE) Bill, terming it an assault on India’s federal structure. Speaking against the government’s rationale for the legislation, Gogoi questioned the necessity of altering the country’s democratic framework just to save on election costs.Refuting the government’s claim of excessive spending, Gogoi pointed out that the Election Commission of India (ECI) estimates the cost of conducting a Lok Sabha election at Rs 3,700 crores. However, he stressed that this figure represents just 0.02% of India’s annual budget, making it an insignificant cost in the larger fiscal picture. “To save 0.02% of the budget, they are attempting to dismantle the entire federal system and empower the ECI,” he remarked.Gogoi also expressed concerns over the Election Commission’s independence, criticizing the lack of involvement of the Supreme Court in the appointment of its Commissioner. This, he argued, undermines the democratic integrity of the institution, which plays a key role in ensuring free and fair elections.Additionally, Gogoi highlighted the government’s inability to garner overwhelming support for the bill, noting that the ruling NDA coalition only secured the bill’s introduction with a margin of 65 votes, signaling a lack of consensus in Parliament. “The entire NDA couldn’t even achieve a two-thirds majority for the Bill,” he pointed out.The ONOE Bill, which proposes synchronized elections for both the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, has been backed by the government as a means of reducing election-related costs and streamlining the electoral process. However, opposition parties, led by Congress, have raised serious concerns regarding its potential erosion of regional autonomy and federalism.As the debate over the bill continues, it is expected that opposition parties will intensify their scrutiny of its potential implications for India’s democratic fabric and its constitutional framework.
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