Government's Stance on 'One Nation, One Election' Ahead of Monsoon Session

As the monsoon session of Parliament approaches, the government has clarified its position on significant legislative matters, including the controversial 'One Nation, One Election' initiative. Despite some opposition MPs joining the ruling NDA, the government plans to prioritize pending ordinances rather than introducing new bills. The Women's Reservation Bill and Delimitation Bill remain contentious topics, with the opposition expressing concerns over representation. The session is set to begin on July 20, raising questions about the government's strategy and the potential for bipartisan support.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 17, 2026, 17:13 IST

Government's Position on Upcoming Parliamentary Session

Despite several opposition MPs joining the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the central government has no plans to introduce the 'One Nation, One Election' initiative during the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament next week. Additionally, there is no clear indication regarding the introduction of the Delimitation Bill and the Women's Reservation Bill in this session. However, the government believes that many opposition MPs may support these two bills this time, potentially isolating the Congress party. According to sources, the government's immediate priority is to pass pending ordinances, including the Supreme Court (Judges' Number) Amendment Bill, 2026, which aims to increase the maximum number of approved judges in the Supreme Court from 33 to 37.

Opposition to 'One Nation, One Election'

The 'One Nation, One Election' bill was introduced during last year's winter session of Parliament but was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) chaired by BJP MP P.P. Chaudhary. The term of this committee has been extended until August 10. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly advocated for 'One Nation, One Election', emphasizing that it would save valuable time and resources spent on elections. However, opposition leaders argue that the government is hastily trying to push this bill through, asserting that it cannot be passed without their consent. Congress MP K.C. Venugopal stated on Thursday, "How can they bring this bill without opposition support? They need to discuss it with us. We should know what they are proposing, and then we will express our views.

Delimitation and Women's Reservation Bills

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, related to women's reservation, did not pass in the Lok Sabha during the last parliamentary session. The bill received 298 votes in favor, while 230 MPs voted against it. To pass in the Lok Sabha, this bill requires a two-thirds majority. The opposition claims it is not against women's reservation but has criticized the delimitation process, arguing that it could reduce representation from southern states in Parliament and has raised questions about its methodology. Nevertheless, the government continues to defend delimitation, assuring that representation from southern states will not diminish. The monsoon session of Parliament is set to commence on July 20 and will continue until August 13.