Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal was expected to present the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday, however the government deferred the introduction of the bills.
On December 12, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the constitutional amendment bill, which aims to implement simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. The decision was based on recommendations made by a high-level committee led by former president Ram Nath Kovind.
Also Read: One Nation One Election: The proposal, report and key recommendations
Two draft legislations, including one simple bill to amend provisions in laws dealing with three Union territories with legislative assemblies to align them with the Constitution amendment bill, were given the nod by the Cabinet.
The proposed constitutional amendment bill would deal with making provisions for holding Lok Sabha and state legislative assembly elections together.
While a high-level committee led by former president Ram Nath Kovind on simultaneous polls had also proposed holding municipality and panchayat elections along with the national and state elections in a phased manner, the Cabinet has decided to stay away, “as of now”, from the manner in which local body elections are conducted.
-With inputs from PTI
