The Union government has opted not to include the constitutional amendment Bill to hold simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies in the revised list of business for Monday, signaling a likely delay in its introduction. The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, initially scheduled for discussion in the Lok Sabha on Monday, have been removed from the revised agenda.
According to sources, the government plans to bring the Bills after the Rajya Sabha concludes discussions on the Constitution and once the supplementary demands for grants are approved in the Lok Sabha. Should the government wish to reintroduce the Bills on Monday, Speaker Om Birla’s approval will be required to issue a supplementary list of business.
Members of Parliament had already received copies of both Bills, following their clearance by the Union Cabinet last week.
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal explained the necessity for simultaneous elections in the statement on objects and reasons attached to the Bill. Meghwal noted that simultaneous elections to the House of the People and State Assemblies were held in 1951-52, 1957, 1962, and 1967. However, the cycle was disrupted in 1968 and 1969 when some Legislative Assemblies were dissolved prematurely.
“Elections have become increasingly expensive and time-consuming, making simultaneous elections imperative,” Meghwal remarked. He also highlighted the Law Commission’s recommendation in its 170th report, which suggested that conducting separate elections for State Assemblies should be an exception rather than the norm. Additionally, he pointed to the endorsement of the proposal by a high-level committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind.
In the revised agenda for the Rajya Sabha, discussions and voting on the Supplementary Demands for Grants for the first batch of 2024-2025 are prioritized. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present two Appropriation Bills alongside the Supplementary Grants.
Another item on Monday’s schedule is the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of Goa Bill, 2024. The proposed legislation, to be introduced by Law Minister Meghwal, seeks to reserve seats for Scheduled Tribes in the Goa Assembly in alignment with Article 332 of the Constitution. This adjustment aims to ensure effective democratic representation for members of Scheduled Tribes in the state legislature.
Amid these legislative discussions, the Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar has extended an invitation to Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge for another round of talks to resolve the ongoing stalemate in the Upper House. The impasse stems from a no-confidence motion moved against Dhankhar by the Opposition, accusing him of partiality in presiding over proceedings.
Last week, the Rajya Sabha struggled to conduct regular business as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members protested alleged links between Congress and U.S. billionaire George Soros. However, on Monday, a debate titled “Glorious Journey of 75 Years of the Constitution of India” is listed in the Upper House, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah expected to address the discussion.
In a related development, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha has announced its decision not to support the no-confidence motion against Dhankhar, proposed by the INDIA bloc. Niranjan Bisi, a Rajya Sabha member from the BJD, clarified that the party had not been consulted by the INDIA alliance before the motion was introduced.
“Our leader Mr. Naveen Patnaik was not approached for discussions on this matter. Consequently, we have decided to abstain from participating in the no-confidence motion,” Bisi stated.
Patnaik had recently reiterated that the party would take a stance based on the evolving situation. The BJD, which currently holds seven seats in the Rajya Sabha, has thus opted for neutrality in the matter.
Political analysts had speculated that the BJD might align with the INDIA bloc due to its previous losses to the BJP in both general and Assembly elections. Adding to this anticipation, two former BJD Rajya Sabha members had recently resigned from the party and joined the BJP. However, the BJD’s current decision reflects its independent stance, keeping in line with its long-standing policy of assessing situations before taking positions on national issues.