Doesn't violate federalism: Ex-CJI BR Gavai on One Nation, One Election to JPC

New Delhi: Former Chief Justice of India BR Gavai on Thursday told a Joint Parliamentary Committee, examining the 'One Nation, One Election' (ONOE) proposal, that the bill does not violate the basic structure of the Constitution, asserting that neither federalism nor the democratic form of governance would be affected by synchronised polls.

Addressing the panel, chaired by BJP MP PP Choudhary, Justice Gavai, according to sources, maintained that ONOE entails only a one-time adjustment in the election cycle to synchronise Lok Sabha and assembly polls. "Through the enactment of this bill, neither of these will be changed or affected," he is learnt to have said, backing its constitutional validity.

Speaking after the meeting, Choudhary said most concerns raised by members pertained to bill's constitutional validity. Quoting Justice Gavai, he said the proposal falls "within the competence of Parliament" and constitutes a "very big election reform."