Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Scindia, Giriraj Singh and 17 other BJP MPs skip One Nation One Poll introduction in Lok Sabha; may get notice

The ruling BJP had issued a three-line whip mandating all MPs to be present in the House for the session. 

For introduction, the Bill secured 269 votes in favour, while 198 MPs from various opposition parties voted against it following a 90-minute debate during the division of votes. 

The Congress, Samajwadi Party, DMK and other parties opposed the introduction. During the discussion on the introduction stage, Home Minister Amit Shah said the government may refer the two important Bills on the matter to a parliamentary panel. 

The Bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal amidst heated exchanges.

"One of the essential features is federalism and the structure of our democracy.

 Therefore the bills which have been moved by the Minister of Law and Justice absolutely assault the basic structure of the Constitution and are beyond the legislative competence of this House and therefore they need to be opposed and the introduction of those bills have to be stopped," Congress MP Manish Tewari said. 

Meghwal, addressing concerns raised during the debate, assured the House that the legislation would not interfere with the autonomy or powers of the states.

Additionally, the Union Territories Amendment Bill, aimed at aligning elections in Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu and Kashmir with Lok Sabha polls, was also introduced.

Meghwal dismissed opposition claims that the Bill violated the basic structure doctrine, asserting that the legislation adhered to constitutional principles.

The introduction of the Constitution amendment Bill requires a simple majority, its passage will require the government to garner a two-thirds majority in the House.