BJP ally JD(U) urges caution on ‘One Nation One Election’, seeks wider consultation

Key National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ally Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) has raised concerns over the Centre’s proposed ‘One Nation One Election’ Bill, urging the government to conduct wider consultations rather than hastily pushing the legislation, while the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has also voiced reservations on parliamentary arrangements.

The issue was discussed during an all-party meeting convened by the BJP-led NDA government ahead of the Budget session, where leaders from various political parties, including Congress, the Left, and Trinamool Congress (TMC), participated in deliberations on legislative priorities.

Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Kiren Rijiju, J.P. Nadda, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and L. Murugan chaired the meeting, during which JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha stressed the need for a cautious approach to the Bill, which aims to synchronise elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies and has been referred to a 39-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further review.

Alongside concerns over electoral reforms, JD(U) and TDP leaders flagged issues regarding seating arrangements in the new Lok Sabha chamber, echoing grievances previously highlighted by Congress, as they argued that the allocations were made without consensus.

With the Budget session set to begin, tensions are expected to rise as several Opposition MPs prepare to challenge the government on multiple issues, including allegations of mismanagement and VVIP culture linked to the stampede at Maha Kumbh, as well as procedural lapses in the Waqf JPC’s functioning.