The Indian government has referred two significant bills aimed at facilitating simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies to a joint parliamentary committee, marking the 12th such bill sent for detailed scrutiny since 2015. This move comes amidst opposition claims that the proposals undermine federalism.
The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill aims to establish a framework for concurrent elections, requiring a two-thirds majority due to its constitutional implications. Meanwhile, the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill seeks to synchronize the legislative terms of Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu and Kashmir with other state assemblies and only requires a simple majority for passage.
The joint committee will review the bills clause by clause and may invite evidence from relevant stakeholders. This process follows a history of legislative scrutiny, including previous bills like the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and the Citizenship Act amendments.