Now Reading: Chidambaram calls One Nation One Election monstrous, JPC chief says 99% back it
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Chidambaram calls One Nation One Election monstrous, JPC chief says 99% back it
Chidambaram calls One Nation One Election monstrous, JPC chief says 99% back it
Former union minister P Chidambaram told the joint parliamentary committee examining the One Nation, One Election bills that the proposal is unconstitutional, monstrous and mindless. The Times of India reports Chidambaram argued…
Former union minister P Chidambaram told the joint parliamentary committee examining the One Nation, One Election bills that the proposal is unconstitutional, monstrous and mindless. The Times of India reports Chidambaram argued that curtailing a legislature's five-year term violates the basic structure of the Constitution and that the government lacks the required two-thirds majority to pass the bills.
The Federal reports JPC chairman PP Chaudhary said simultaneous polls in 2029 are possible if the Constitution is amended by 2028 and state governments agree to align their elections. Chaudhary claimed 99 per cent of stakeholders consulted so far support simultaneous elections. The bills, introduced in December 2024, aim to synchronise Lok Sabha and state assembly polls.
Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghosh separately opposed the bills, warning they could give unbridled power to the Election Commission. The committee also heard from Padma awardees, with some supporting and others opposing the proposal.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The coverage splits between opposition criticism and government optimism. Times of India leads with Chidambaram's sharp attack, framing the bill as constitutionally suspect, while The Federal and India TV lead with Chaudhary's timeline and stakeholder support, omitting the opposition's detailed constitutional objections. Neither side addresses the practical challenge: Chaudhary conceded simultaneous polls depend on state consent, yet the government's own high-level committee recommended a phased rollout. The 2029 target requires both a constitutional amendment by 2028 and voluntary dissolution of state assemblies, a political hurdle the headlines obscure.
Coverage: 3 sources, 1 pro-government, 1 government-critical, 1 neutral
Sources (3): timesofindia.indiatimes.com (government critical), indiatvnews.com (pro government), thefederal.com (neutral report)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
