The Shiv Sena has issued a whip to all of its Lok Sabha MPs, directing them to be present in the House today for the discussion of some “important legislative business.” The Shiv Sena Parliamentary Party emphasized that the MPs’ attendance is essential for the entire session.
In a statement, Shiv Sena Chief Whip in Lok Sabha, Shrirang Barne, said, “All the Lok Sabha MPs of Shiv Sena are informed that some very important issues/legislative work will be brought in the Lok Sabha for discussion and passage tomorrow, Tuesday, December 17. All the Lok Sabha members of the Shiv Sena Party are requested to compulsorily be present in the House for the entire time tomorrow.”
Earlier, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also issued a three-line whip to its Lok Sabha MPs, urging their presence on December 17. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to reply to the debate on supplementary demands for grants for the financial year 2024-25.
The much-anticipated ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill, which aims for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, is also likely to be introduced in Lok Sabha today. The listed agenda for the session includes the Constitution Amendment Bill related to these simultaneous elections.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill will be introduced by Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal. In addition, Meghwal is expected to present a Bill to further amend the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. This bill seeks to align elections in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry for the purposes of simultaneous elections.
The Union Cabinet had earlier approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill in December 2024. While the BJP and its allies support the bill, several opposition parties, including the Congress, Trinamool Congress, and DMK, have voiced their opposition.
The Union Cabinet had accepted the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections in September. The panel, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, recommended implementing simultaneous elections in two phases. The first phase would hold Lok Sabha and Assembly elections together, while the second phase would conduct local body elections (panchayat and municipalities) within 100 days of the general elections. The panel also proposed a common electoral roll for all elections.