Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Former chief justice of India BR Gavai told a parliamentary committee on Thursday that the simultaneous elections bill does not violate the basic structure of the Constitution.Becoming the sixth former CJI to appear before the joint committee of Parliament headed by BJP MP PP Chaudhary, Gavai said if the bill is enacted, it will affect neither the federal structure nor the democratic form of governance, making the proposed law in consonance with the basic structure, sources in the know of deliberations said.The one-nation-one-election bill, as the 129th Constitution (amendment) Bill is commonly known, only brings a change in the manner of elections once, while the structure of polls and the rights of voters remain the same.Enthused by Gavai’s backing, Chaudhary said opposition parties should join the ruling alliance in backing the bill so that the proposed law is crystallised, paving the way for synchronised Lok Sabha and assembly polls.This is in the national interest, and all parties should set aside their political interest to back the proposal, he told reporters, noting that most of the legal experts have found no constitutional error in the bill.The ex-CJI rejected the criticism that questioned Parliament’s mandate as the bill impacts states too and said the legislature has the mandate, sources added.He noted that India had held simultaneous elections till 1967.The entire bloc of opposition parties has condemned the bill as an attack on India’s federal structure and questioned govt’s arguments in its support.
