Opposition calls move an assault on basic structure, federal spirit

Opposition leaders on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the bills introduced in the Lok Sabha that propose simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, arguing that the legislation undermines federalism, violates the Constitution's basic structure, was introduced without adequate consultation with states and envisions an impractical scenario.

- Snehashish Roy

The bills -- Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 and The Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2024 -- seek to align elections to the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and Union territories of Puducherry, Delhi, and Jammu & Kashmir. They were introduced by Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal after a heated 90-minute debate.

The introduction of the bills was followed by a division of votes using the automated vote recording system for the first time in the Lok Sabha. The introduction was approved by 263 MPs and opposed by 198 members. To be sure, the constitutional amendment will require a two-thirds majority to be passed in both Houses.

Leading the opposition charge, Congress MP Manish Tewari termed the bills an "assault" on the basic structure doctrine established by the Supreme Court in the 1973 Kesavananda Bharati case. "One of the essential features is federalism and the structure of our democracy. The bills assault the basic structure of the Constitution and exceed the legislative competence of this House," said Tewari, who represents Chandigarh in the Lok Sabha.