The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, related to the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative, is set to be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. Simultaneously, discussions on constitutional matters continue in the Rajya Sabha.
Opposition parties have strongly opposed the bill, calling it a threat to the Constitution and democracy. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi stated, “This is an attack on India’s Constitution and citizens’ democratic rights. The Congress party and the INDIA alliance will oppose it vigorously. The BJP is attempting to undermine India’s fair election process.”
Sources indicate that the proposed Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for reviewing the bill will be led by the BJP, with representatives from other parties included. However, the future of local body elections remains uncertain, with no clear decisions announced yet.
Last week, the Union Cabinet advanced the proposal for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The implications for local body elections under this framework are still unclear.
