Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is set to introduce ‘The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024’ in the Lok Sabha on December 16 (Monday).
Objective of the Bill
- The bill aims to amend the Constitution to enable simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
- It also addresses the alignment of assembly elections in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry.
Additionally, Arjun Ram Meghwal will introduce the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to amend:
- The Government of Union Territories Act, 1963
- The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991
- The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019
Opposition’s Concerns on ‘One Nation, One Election’
The proposal for One Nation, One Election has sparked debate between the ruling BJP-led NDA and the opposition parties:
- Impracticality Concerns
- Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh questioned the bill’s feasibility, raising concerns about scenarios where state governments collapse before completing their terms.“If a state government falls in six months, will the state remain without a government for the remaining 4.5 years?”
- Democratic Concerns
- Congress MP Jairam Ramesh demanded that the bill be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), stating:“The bill undermines democracy and needs wider consultation. The Congress party opposes it, as clarified earlier in a letter sent to the Kovind Committee.”
Government’s Stand
- The Union Cabinet approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal on December 12, paving the way for its parliamentary introduction.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the initiative as a significant step to enhance India’s democracy, highlighting its efficiency in saving time and resources.
Key Recommendations
The bill incorporates recommendations from a high-level committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, aiming to:
- Conduct simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, urban bodies, and panchayats within 100 days.
Support and Opposition
- BJP and NDA allies have welcomed the bill, citing its potential to:
- Streamline governance
- Reduce election expenses
- Minimize policy disruptions caused by frequent elections.
- Opposition parties, particularly from the INDIA bloc, view the proposal as an attack on federalism and have questioned its constitutional and logistical feasibility.
Next Steps
The Lok Sabha will debate the One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment Bill starting Monday, with significant political discussions expected as parties weigh its implications for India’s electoral and democratic processes.
This marks a critical moment in India’s governance reform as the proposal attempts to reshape the nation’s electoral framework.