New Delhi, December 19: Two bills aimed at amending the Indian Constitution to enable simultaneous national and state elections by 2034 have been sent to a 39-member joint parliamentary committee (JPC). This move, which follows a contentious winter session in the Lok Sabha, is set to initiate wider consultations on proposed changes that could alter the political landscape.
The JPC, which was formed on Friday, includes key opposition figures such as Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Manish Tewari, along with Trinamool Congress members Kalyan Banerjee and Saket Gokhale. The committee also features representatives from the ruling BJP, including former Union Minister Anurag Thakur, Sambit Patra, and Anil Baluni. Smaller parties like the Shiv Sena and NCP factions have also gained representation. However, the JPC does not include parties like Bihar’s JDU or Andhra Pradesh’s TDP, which are considered allies of the BJP.
The bills, which were introduced in the Lok Sabha earlier this week by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, propose five major amendments to the Constitution, including aligning the terms of state and union territory assemblies with those of the Lok Sabha. The Election Commission is expected to play a critical role in organizing the simultaneous elections, which could help streamline the electoral calendar and reduce the costs associated with multiple elections each year.
The proposal, which has been backed by the BJP, has sparked fierce opposition, with critics questioning its potential to disrupt democratic processes. The JPC has been given an initial term of 90 days, with the possibility of an extension, to review the proposed amendments and conduct consultations.
