Shimla, Jun 19 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said though the Congress opposes the Bill on 'One Nation One Election', the party has communicated some suggestions to the joint parliamentary panel vetting it to strengthen the democratic fabrics of the country.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, about the proposal of 'One Nation One Election' held a meeting with the chief minister on Thursday.
"The Congress party opposes the Bill but still we have communicated some suggestions to the Committee to strengthen the democratic fabric of the country," Sukhu told reporters after the meeting.
"We have suggested that a provision be made for holding elections in a year to uphold democratic values," the chief minister said and added that there were concerns regarding what happens when a government collapses mid-term or how the tenures will align when an MLA resigns, he said.
The Committee was welcomed by the chief minister, who honoured its Chairperson, P P Choudhary, and other members with traditional Himachali caps and shawls on the occasion. Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur also attended the meeting as a member of the Committee.
'One Nation One Election' is not just a political issue but it is a national issue, said Chaudhary, adding that civil society, scholars and Padma awardees in every state they visited, including those in the Congress-ruled states, have shown overwhelming support to 'One Nation One Election'.
Separate elections mean separate voter lists, multiple deployments, school closures for polling and repeated election expenditure, he added.
Former Union Minister Anurag Thakur said 'One Nation One Election' would be significant for hill states like Himachal Pradesh as simultaneous elections save time and money, and reduce disruptions.
Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania said even if 'One Nation One Election' is the need of the hour, the basic structure of the Constitution must not be altered. The Constitution already provides for five-year terms for both Parliament and the state legislatures but mid-term elections and breakdowns in governance have disrupted that structure, he opined.
Leader of Opposition in the Himachal Assembly and former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said, "The 'One Nation, One Election' Bill is a bold move. Political parties may have different opinions but the public sentiment is clear in favour of one nation, one election and our party fully supports the Bill."
The Committee engaged in detailed deliberations on the proposed 'One Nation One Election' framework. The chief minister and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri shared the views of the Himachal Pradesh government during the discussions, a statement issued here said.