BJP inquiring into absence of MPs during voting on One Nation One Election Bills in Lok Sabha

Two Bills that lay down the mechanism to hold simultaneous elections were introduced in the Lok Sabha after a fiery 90-minute debate on Tuesday.

New Delhi: The BJP is inquiring into the absence of its nearly 20 MPs from Lok Sabha during the voting on Tuesday on the introduction of the Bill for simultaneous elections.

The party had issued a whip to its MPs asking them to be present in the House. However, so many MPs skipping the Lower House during crucial business irked the BJP's top leadership, sources said.

While a few MPs informed the party Chief whip in advance about the absence in the House, the party decided to ask remaining members for reasons for skipping the proceedings, sources said.

Two Bills that lay down the mechanism to hold simultaneous elections were introduced in the Lok Sabha followed by a division of votes. As many as 269 members voted in favour of the Bill and 198 against it.

Some MPs, including Union minister C R Patil, were engaged with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public event in Rajasthan, the sources said.

Four to five MPs from BJP allies were also not present during the voting, sources said, adding that this is also being looked into.