Introduction of Bills
Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced two Bills:
Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill – Aims to implement simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
Union Territories Amendment Bill – Aligns elections in Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir with the Lok Sabha elections.
Debate in Lok Sabha
Opposition members argued that the Bills are "anti-federal" and violate the Constitution's basic structure.
263 MPs voted in favor of introducing the Bills, while 198 MPs opposed them.
Opposition leaders argued that the Bills would undermine the autonomy of state legislatures and disrupt the constitutional scheme.
They voiced concerns about the Bills giving excessive powers to the Election Commission
Vote and Political Challenge
While the Bills were introduced, their passage requires a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
A vote on the Bills revealed that the government lacked the necessary support, with the required majority of 307 MPs not being met.
The division of votes during the debate marked the first use of the electronic voting system in the new Parliament building.
COMMENTS