Congress MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Manish Tewari, Sukhdeo Bhagat and Randeep Surjewala are expected to represent the party in the joint committee of the parliament (JPC) that would examine the legislation pertaining to simultaneous elections, according to reports today.
According to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the bills were “anti-constitutional”. She stated, “It is against the federalism of our nation. We are opposing the bill”.
In the meantime, the Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee, has suggested Rajya Sabha member Saket Gokhale and Lok Sabha member Kalyan Banerjee for the proposed panel.
The opposition and the union government engaged in a heated debate before two legislation that establish the process for holding simultaneous elections were submitted in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
The Congress-led opposition termed the legislation “anti-constitutional”. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal made it clear that the law will not interfere with state authority.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi advised the Cabinet that the bill would be referred to a joint parliamentary committee, according to union home minister Amit Shah, who briefed the Lok Sabha amid a commotion.
Following a split of votes, the bill was introduced. 198 lawmakers voted against the bill’s introduction, while 263 members supported it.
The bill’s introduction was met with opposition from the DMK, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, NCP-SP, Shiv Sena-UBT, AIMIM, and the Opposition Congress.
The bill, which calls for simultaneous assembly and general elections, was presented months after a panel headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind consulted with political parties and other interested parties. The measure was opposed by 15 political parties and supported by 32.
Amit Shah stated in the House, “Detailed discussions can take place in the JPC. The report of the JPC will be approved by the Cabinet. Then again, there will be a discussion on this (bills) in the House”.
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