New Delhi, 17 December 2024: A Constitutional Amendment Bill aimed at holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections across the country is set to be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Following its introduction, the bill is expected to be referred to a joint parliamentary committee for detailed examination.
According to the Lok Sabha agenda, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will introduce the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024. Meghwal is likely to urge Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to direct the bill to a joint committee comprising members from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, based on the proportional representation of parties in Parliament.
The Minister will also present the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024. This bill proposes the unification of election processes across Union Territories, including Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
An official source on Monday confirmed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as the largest party in Parliament, will hold the chairmanship of the proposed committee and have a significant representation on it. The official further noted that Home Minister Amit Shah—who served on the high-level committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind—may be present in the House during the bill’s introduction. The legislation is based on recommendations from this high-level committee.
The push for holding simultaneous elections reflects the Union Cabinet’s approval of the proposal during its meeting on December 12, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government has framed the bill as a significant step toward improving electoral efficiency and reducing administrative costs.
The introduction comes amid the ongoing winter session of Parliament, which is scheduled to conclude on December 20. With the BJP set to lead deliberations in the joint committee, the bill’s progress will be closely watched, as it signals a major shift in India’s electoral process.