Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is set to introduce a new bill called “The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024” in the Lok Sabha on December 16 (Monday). This bill aims to change how elections are held in India.
The main idea is to have Lok Sabha (national) elections and State Assembly elections happen at the same time. The bill also includes plans to align elections in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry.
Some leaders from opposition parties are not happy with this idea. Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh raised concerns about what would happen if a state government loses power. He asked, “If a state government falls within six months, will that state remain without a government for the next 4.5 years?” He believes that it is unfair to expect people to wait so long for new elections.
Another Congress MP, Jairam Ramesh, said that the “One Nation, One Election” bill should be discussed by a Joint Parliamentary Committee. He believes the bill goes against the principles of democracy. This concern was echoed by Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge last year in a letter opposing the bill.
Earlier this week, the “One Nation, One Election” bill was approved by the Union Cabinet. The hope is that these changes could save time and make elections across the country easier. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the decision, calling it a significant step for India’s democracy.
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