39-member JPC on ‘one nation, one election’ bills announced
A 39-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) was constituted on Friday to review two bills related to "one nation, one election".
A 39-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) was constituted on Friday to review two bills related to "one nation, one election".
The concept of ‘One Nation, One Election’ represents a bold attempt to overhaul India’s electoral system, addressing issues of cost, governance, and electoral fatigue.
As per the list of business, Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will introduce the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
The Bill on the simultaneous polls for the lower house and the assemblies, once cleared by both houses of Parliament, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, will become a law.
The resolution, moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister MB Rajesh on behalf of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, criticized the proposal submitted by the high-level panel headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind.
He described the entire proposal as ‘a move to satisfy the BJP’s ego and asserted that Indian democracy cannot be bent to suit the greed of one party’.
Chief Minister Vijayan said the Union Government has a hidden agenda behind its decision to implement 'one nation, one election' in the country.
"When they can not hold elections in three or four states simultaneously, how will they be able to hold 'one nation, one election'?” he questioned.
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said, “It is not at all practical in this country. They want to divert attention from present issues."
He hailed the decision as a significant step toward strengthening democracy and promoting political stability.
