The Jamili Elections Bill, aimed at conducting simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly elections, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. The bill has been proposed as the 129th Constitutional Amendment by the central government.
Opposition Voices Strong Dissent
The bill faced severe opposition from key political parties. Congress MP Manish Tewari criticized the bill, stating that it exceeds the legislative competence of the Lok Sabha and demanded its immediate withdrawal. Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav termed it a reflection of “authoritarian tendencies.”
Several opposition parties, including the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, DMK, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), and Shiv Sena (UBT), strongly opposed the bill and demanded that it be referred to a Parliamentary Committee for detailed review. Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi argued that the bill undermines voting rights and insisted on its referral to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).
TDP Extends Support
Amidst opposition backlash, NDA ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP) extended its support to the bill. The party expressed its agreement with the central government’s proposal for conducting simultaneous elections for both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.