'One Nation, One Election' Bills Sent to Joint Parliamentary Committee

'One Nation, One Election' Bills Sent to Joint Parliamentary Committee

Titas Mukherjee     Dec 20, 2024 01:14 pm

Two bills designed to amend the Constitution to facilitate simultaneous federal and state elections by 2034 have been sent to a 39-member joint parliamentary committee (JPC) for review. The decision, made Friday morning, came at the close of a contentious Lok Sabha winter session, which saw heated debates, especially after Home Minister Amit Shah's controversial "Ambedkar is the fashion" remark. The session was then adjourned sine die.


The newly-formed JPC tasked with reviewing the bills features a mix of leaders from both the ruling BJP and the opposition. On the opposition side, Congress MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Manish Tewari, along with Trinamool Congress's Kalyan Banerjee and Saket Gokhale have been selected. The government’s corner will be led by Union Ministers Anurag Thakur, Sambit Patra, and Anil Baluni.

To ensure broader representation, the committee was expanded from 31 to 39 members, responding to demands from smaller parties for inclusion. The committee now includes members from Maharashtra's rival Shiv Sena factions and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), along with representatives from two of the BJP's allies. However, Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal (United) [JDU] and Andhra Pradesh's Telugu Desam Party (TDP), both considered allies of the BJP-led government, have not been included.

The JPC has been given an initial term of 90 days to conduct consultations on the proposed amendments, with the possibility of an extension. The committee will focus on five major constitutional changes, including the synchronization of state and union territory assembly terms with those of the Lok Sabha.

The bills, introduced by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal earlier this week, have already sparked strong opposition from several parties. The Congress, along with its allies in the INDIA bloc—the Samajwadi Party and the Trinamool Congress—has vehemently opposed the proposals. They argue that the amendments threaten to undermine India’s federal structure by diminishing the autonomy of state legislatures and centralizing power in the hands of the federal government.

Opposition leaders have warned that such changes could weaken regional political representation and erode the independence of state governments. They believe the amendments would tilt the balance of power towards the central government, undermining the diversity and autonomy that are fundamental to India’s federal system.​

Reported By: Titas Mukherjee     Place: Kolkata     Dec 20, 2024 01:14 pm




Place : Kolkata     Reported By : Titas Mukherjee     20-12-2024 01:14:02 pm

Two bills designed to amend the Constitution to facilitate simultaneous federal and state elections by 2034 have been sent to a 39-member joint parliamentary committee (JPC) for review. The decision, made Friday morning, came at the close of a contentious Lok Sabha winter session, which saw heated debates, especially after Home Minister Amit Shah's controversial "Ambedkar is the fashion" remark. The session was then adjourned sine die.


The newly-formed JPC tasked with reviewing the bills features a mix of leaders from both the ruling BJP and the opposition. On the opposition side, Congress MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Manish Tewari, along with Trinamool Congress's Kalyan Banerjee and Saket Gokhale have been selected. The government’s corner will be led by Union Ministers Anurag Thakur, Sambit Patra, and Anil Baluni.

To ensure broader representation, the committee was expanded from 31 to 39 members, responding to demands from smaller parties for inclusion. The committee now includes members from Maharashtra's rival Shiv Sena factions and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), along with representatives from two of the BJP's allies. However, Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal (United) [JDU] and Andhra Pradesh's Telugu Desam Party (TDP), both considered allies of the BJP-led government, have not been included.

The JPC has been given an initial term of 90 days to conduct consultations on the proposed amendments, with the possibility of an extension. The committee will focus on five major constitutional changes, including the synchronization of state and union territory assembly terms with those of the Lok Sabha.

The bills, introduced by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal earlier this week, have already sparked strong opposition from several parties. The Congress, along with its allies in the INDIA bloc—the Samajwadi Party and the Trinamool Congress—has vehemently opposed the proposals. They argue that the amendments threaten to undermine India’s federal structure by diminishing the autonomy of state legislatures and centralizing power in the hands of the federal government.

Opposition leaders have warned that such changes could weaken regional political representation and erode the independence of state governments. They believe the amendments would tilt the balance of power towards the central government, undermining the diversity and autonomy that are fundamental to India’s federal system.​

Top Posts

1.

Aditya Thackeray calls Mahayuti "April Fool Govt', for imposing 'Adani Jaziya Kar'...

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aditya Thackeray criticized the Mahayuti government, calling it the "April Fool ... Read more
2.

Mumbai Police Summons to Kunal Kamra's Show Audience...

The Mumbai Police have issued notices to attendees of comedian Kunal Kamra’s show, where he allege... Read more
3.

“Pay 10 lakh For each Bulldozed Homes…” Supreme Court Slams Yogi Government Over Prayagraj Dem...

The Supreme Court on Tuesday has delivered a scathing rebuke to the authorities of Uttar Pradesh Gov... Read more
4.

Eight Killed in Explosion at ‘Illegal’ Firecracker Factory in West Bengal...

A devastating explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in Patharpratima, South 24 Parganas distri... Read more
5.

Deadly Explosion at Gujarat Firecracker Factory Claims 21 Lives...

A deadly explosion at an alleged illegal firecracker factory in Deesa, Gujarat’s Banaskantha distr... Read more

LATEST NEWS

1.

Aditya Thackeray calls Mahayuti "April Fool Govt', for imposing 'Adani Jaziya Kar'...

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aditya Thackeray criticized the Mahayuti government, calling it the "April Fool ... Read more
2.

Mumbai Police Summons to Kunal Kamra's Show Audience...

The Mumbai Police have issued notices to attendees of comedian Kunal Kamra’s show, where he allege... Read more
3.

“Pay 10 lakh For each Bulldozed Homes…” Supreme Court Slams Yogi Government Over Prayagraj Dem...

The Supreme Court on Tuesday has delivered a scathing rebuke to the authorities of Uttar Pradesh Gov... Read more
4.

Eight Killed in Explosion at ‘Illegal’ Firecracker Factory in West Bengal...

A devastating explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in Patharpratima, South 24 Parganas distri... Read more
5.

Deadly Explosion at Gujarat Firecracker Factory Claims 21 Lives...

A deadly explosion at an alleged illegal firecracker factory in Deesa, Gujarat’s Banaskantha distr... Read more
6.

One Dead, 40 Hospitalised in a Nitrogen Gas Leak at a Rajasthan Factory...

A nitrogen gas leak from a tanker at an acid factory warehouse in Beawar, Rajasthan, has claimed the... Read more

Top Videos