Smriti Kak Ramachandran letters@hindustantimes.com NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Thursday gave its nod to two bills aimed at implementing simultaneous state and national polls that are likely to be introduced during the ongoing winter session of Parliament in a bid to usher in sweeping changes in the ways elections are conducted in the world's largest democracy.
The proposal to align elections was a part of the Bharatiya Janata Party's 2024 poll manifesto and has the backing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi but is fiercely opposed by a raft of opposition parties and activists who allege that it will hurt democratic accountability and federalism.
The Cabinet cleared the Constitutional Amendment Bill to conduct elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies together and a second bill to align the polls in the Union Territories of Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu & Kashmir, said people aware of the details. The second bill does not require amending the Constitution.
The bills are likely to be introduced in the ongoing winter session, which concludes on December 20, and will likely be examined by a joint parliamentary committee (JPC), said people aware of details.
The Union government as well as the BJP will carry out extensive outreach to create awareness about the provision of the bills and the implications these will have on the electoral reforms, the people cited above said. As a first step, the bills will focus on synchronising Lok Sabha and assembly elections, as suggested by the Ram Nath Kovind committee, and will take up the process of replicating the process for municipal and panchayat elections in the next phase, one of the people cited above said.
The bill for holding simultaneous polls for all state and UT assemblies along with parliamentary elections can be passed by Parliament without consultation with state governments or ratification by state assemblies, said a person aware of the details.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 13, 2024 من Hindustan Times Lucknow.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة December 13, 2024 من Hindustan Times Lucknow.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
From 2025, NTA not to hold recruitment tests
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will, from 2025, conduct only entrance exams for higher education institutions and not recruitment exams, a move aimed at improving its functioning and in keeping with the recommendations of a high-level committee set up in June 2024.
MOVE AGAINST FEDERALISM, WILL ALTER BASIC STRUCTURE: OPPN
NEW DELHI: Opposition leaders on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the bills introduced in the Lok Sabha that propose simultaneous elections to the Lower House and state assemblies, arguing that the legislation undermines federalism, violates the Constitution's basic structure, was introduced without adequate consultation with states and envisions an impractical scenario.
China building villages near Doklam in Bhutan: Sat data
NEW DELHI: China has built at least 22 villages and settlements over the past eight years within territory that has traditionally been part of Bhutan, with eight villages coming up in areas in proximity to the strategic Doklam plateau since 2020, according to satellite imagery.
U.P. govt presents 2nd supplementary budget of ₹17865.72 crore
The UP government on Tuesday presented its second supplementary budget of Rs 17865.72 crore for 2024-2025, including additional provisions for sprucing up the energy sector, making Prayagraj Mahakumbh secure and magnificent, creating development infrastructure, providing additional funds for maintenance of cows and ensuring the sanctity of examinations.
MOVE AGAINST FEDERALISM, WILL ALTER BASIC STRUCTURE: OPPN
Opposition leaders on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the bills introduced in the Lok Sabha that propose simultaneous elections to the Lower House and state assemblies, arguing that the legislation undermines federalism, violates the Constitution's basic structure, was introduced without adequate consultation with states and envisions an impractical scenario.
'OTT IS NOW ABOUT STARS, COMEBACKS'
Actor Divya Dutta speaks about how good writing and good casting is the star for her, irrespective of the medium
Zakir Hussain matlab tabla: Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia on Ustad's death
Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, the legendary classical flautist and music director, is unable to believe that Ustad Zakir Hussain has passed away at \"such a young age,\" he tells HT City.
When Chay flew to Mumbai
Following their wedding on December 4, actor-couple Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala have opened up about their relationship for the first time.
'OTT IS NOW ABOUT STARS, COMEBACKS'
Actor Divya Dutta speaks about how good writing and good casting is the star for her, irrespective of the medium
When Chay flew to Mumbai
Following their wedding on December 4, actor-couple Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala have opened up about their relationship for the first time.
