The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will issue notice to 20 MPs who were absent during voting on 'One Nation, One Election' bill, which was tabled in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

The BJP had issued a three-line whip to all its Lok Sabha MPs to be present in the House today. Two bills paving the way for simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly elections were introduced in the Lower House.

The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill was presented in the Lok Sabha by Meghwal after nearly a 90-minute debate, followed by a division of votes. As many as 269 members voted in favor of the Bill and 198 against it.

Meghwal also presented the Union Territories Amendment Bill, aimed at bringing about elections in the Union territories of Puducherry, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir in-line with those of the Lok Sabha polls. The same has been referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed discussion.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had favored referring the bills to a joint committee of Parliament for wider deliberations at every level.

"Detailed discussions can take place in the JPC. The report of the JPC will be approved by the Cabinet. Then again, there will be a discussion on this (bills) in the House," Shah said.

Opposition slams 'One Nation, One Election' Bill
The opposition parties have slammed the 'One Nation, One Election' bill, terming it as 'against federalism'.

Congress member Manish Tewari opposed the introduction of the bills and termed the move an assault on the basic structure doctrine that stipulates certain features of the Constitution are beyond the amending power of Parliament.

"One of the basic 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," Tewari, a former Union minister, said.

The DMK's Baalu and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) member Supriya Sule favoured referring the bills to a parliamentary committee, if they could not be withdrawn, News Agency reported.

"This Bill is aimed at maximising political gain and convenience. This Bill will finish off regional parties," All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi said.

Parliament में पेश #OneNationOneElection बिल जम्हूरियत के लिए खतरा क्यों है? यह Bill संविधान की बुनयादी ढाँचे के खिलाफ है और क्षेत्रीय दलों को ख़त्म करने का काम करेगा।pic.twitter.com/KThP5mKBdF

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) December 17, 2024