Parliament session highlights: After Shah's speech, Rajya Sabha adjourned till tomorrow

Home Minister Amit Shah speaking in the Rajya Sabha during the Constitution debate.

Parliament session: Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Tuesday introduced the bill for “one nation, one election” in the Lok Sabha. A vote on the proposal saw 269 votes in favour and 198 in opposition. Following the introduction of the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the bill has now been sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for a detailed discussion.

The bill, which also seeks to align the elections of the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Puducherry and the NCT of Delhi, was cleared by the Cabinet last week.

Also Read | One Nation, One Election: Bill provisions show simultaneous polls not until 2034

The proposal to align elections has been a part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) 2024 poll manifesto and has the backing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, it faces opposition from a raft of political parties and activists who allege that it will hurt democratic accountability.

Home minister Amit Shah delivered a fierce speech in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday evening, taking several jibes at the Opposition, especially the Congress party. He accused the grand old party of being “anti-constitutional” and said that it also did not care for the progress of the backward classes.

Shah listed the works of the Modi government for the nation, while slamming that of the former Congress regime.

Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will now reconvene on Wednesday, December 18, at 11 am.

More on the Winter Session of Parliament:

• The Congress has issued a whip to its Lok Sabha MPs, mandating their presence in the House, with the constitutional amendment bill for holding Lok Sabha and assembly elections simultaneously listed for introduction.
• The party's Lok Sabha MPs will also hold a meeting at 10.30 AM to discuss Tuesday's business in the House at the Congress Parliamentary Party office in Parliament
• A similar whip, mandating their presence in the House, has also been issued by the Shiv Sena.
• The Rajya Sabha is holding a two-day debate on the Constitution, which completed 75 years on November 26. A similar debate was held in the Lok Sabha last week.

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Dec 17, 2024, 20:28:30 IST

Parliament session highlights: ONOE bill introduced, high-voltage drama in Houses & Shah's speech

The constitutional amendment bills for conducting Lok Sabha and assembly elections simultaneously were introduced in the House by Law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Tuesday.

Here's what happened in the day:

• Following a vote on the ONOE bill, it was sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for a detailed discussion.
• Meanwhile, high-voltage drama was seen in the Parliament as opposition members heavily opposed the bill, calling it to be “anti-constitutional and anti-democracy”.
• Home minister Amit Shah delivered a fierce speech in the Rajya Sabha and slammed the Opposition and the Congress party. From Constitution to emergency to Muslim perosnal law, Shah attacked the grand old party over several things.
• Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned after the completion of the day's business. The Houses will reconvene on Wednesday, December 18, at 11 am.