Opposition MPs raise slogans in the Lok Sabha during the winter session of Parliament in New Delhi on December 16, 2024. Photo Credit: ANI
The Central Government has prepared to introduce the Constitution Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday (December 17, 2024) to make arrangements for holding the Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections simultaneously.
While the bill is likely to be sent to a joint committee of Parliament after it is tabled in the Lok Sabha, the BJP and its allies have issued a three-line whip urging its members to attend the House.
Also Read:Advantages and disadvantages of simultaneous elections explained
With Chief Ministers such as MK Stalin (Tamil Nadu) and Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal) strongly opposing the bill, many opposition members have served notices to the Lok Sabha Speaker, opposing the introduction of the bill on the basis of legislative capacity.
Interestingly, the bill has been distributed among the parliamentarians, which provides that the president can issue an order to prevent democratic practice in the parliamentary elections.
According to Clause 5 of Section 2 of the Constitution (129) Amendment Bill: “If the Election Commission is of the opinion that the election of any legislature cannot be held at the same time as the election of the People’s Assembly, it shall recommend to the President to declare by order that the election of the said legislature can be held at a later date.”
The bill seeks to insert a new article in the constitution and to amend the mechanism of simultaneous election of the Lok Sabha and the House of Representatives into three articles. It seeks to insert a new Article 82A – simultaneous election of the House of the People (Lok Sabha) and all Legislative Assemblies and to amend Article 83 (tenure of Houses of Parliament), Article 172 (tenure of State Legislatures) and Article 327 (tenure of Parliament). Power of Parliament to make provisions in relation to elections to the Legislature).
published – December 16, 2024 at 11:18 pm IST