Punjab’s political landscape has unified in opposition to the Union government’s “One Nation, One Election” (ONOE) initiative, with the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress — along with Shiromani Akali Dal — raising serious concerns over its implications for India’s federal structure.
Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting: Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, accompanied by AAP state president Aman Arora, appeared before the JPC chaired by PP Choudhary and strongly denounced the proposal as “a direct assault on the fundamental structure and spirit of the Constitution” .
Constitutional federalism at stake: Cheema argued that the amendments to the Constitution—especially under the 129th Amendment Bill, 2024—could allow the Centre to arbitrarily control the tenure of state assemblies through the Election Commission, potentially misusing Articles 356 and 360.
Congress voices concern: A delegation including Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Opposition Leader Partap Singh Bajwa emphasised that simultaneous elections would erode democracy by enforcing uniformity over distinct state issues. They warned it could force mid‑term dissolution or extension of state assemblies, betraying voter mandate.
Akali Dal support: Shiromani Akali Dal also joined the chorus, urging the JPC to abolish Article 356 and reject provisions (Article 82A clause 5) that let the ECI postpone elections, fearing such clauses could be used against opposition-led states
Why It Matters
Punjab’s objection highlights widespread anxiety that ONOE may:
Undermine state autonomy by centralising electoral control.
Encourage abuse of constitutional powers to delay state polls.
Suppress regional representation and local issues central to state elections.
Next Steps
The Joint Parliamentary Committee is collecting feedback from states and across the political spectrum. Punjab has formally submitted its objections in writing, emphasizing the need to preserve federal balance and institutional autonomy.
More on Punjab’s political reaction to ONOE
