NEW DELHI: Congress MPs say the government does not have the required majority to go ahead with the 'One Nation One Election–The 129th Constitution Amendment Bill 2024'. The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha today. When the law minister moved the motion to introduce the bills, the opposition demanded a division vote. 269 voted in favor of the bill while 198 voted against it.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore reminded that constitutional amendment bills can be passed only if there is a two-thirds majority. "Two-thirds majority (307) was needed out of the total 461 votes, but the government secured only 263, while the opposition got 198. The ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal failed to gain two-thirds support.' - Manickam Tagore wrote in X.

The same argument was raised by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. "Undoubtedly the government has larger numbers on its side than us. In the JPC, however, they may even have a majority in terms of the composition of the JPC but to pass it as a constitutional amendment, you need a 2/3 majority that they very clearly don't have. It's obvious that they should not persist too long with this," Shashi Tharoor told the media.

The 129th Constitution Amendment Bill to hold Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously was originally scheduled to be introduced yesterday. However, the decision was postponed on Sunday. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the bill today. The Union Cabinet had earlier approved the bill. It is not easy to pass the bill as the government has only a simple majority. Five constitutional sections need to be amended. It must be passed by a two-thirds majority in both houses. It must be approved by two-thirds of the legislatures. The approval of the legislatures is required because it includes the tenure of the legislatures and local bodies. The Congress, Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and the Left parties have made it clear that they will not accept the move.