Congress proposes Priyanka Gandhi, Manish Tewari's names for JPC on 'One Nation One Election' bills

The Congress party on Wednesday proposed the names of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Manish Tewari, Randeep Surjewala and Sukhdev Bhagat for Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on one-nation-one-poll Bills.

The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, after a heated debate. The bill which aims to facilitate simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies will now be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further scrutiny.

In a division vote, 269 members supported the bill's introduction, while 196 opposed it.


Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that when the 'One Nation, One Election' Bill was taken up in the cabinet for approval, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had suggested that the bill be sent to a JPC for detailed discussions.

Shah said, "When the One Nation, One Election Bill was taken up in the cabinet for approval, PM Modi had said that it should be sent to the JPC for detailed discussion. If the Law Minister is willing to send the bill to JPC, the discussion on its introduction can end."

The committee, comprising 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha, will be finalised within 48 hours by Speaker Om Birla. With the current parliamentary session ending Friday, the committee must be formed quickly to avoid the bill lapsing.

The JPC will have 90 days to review the bills however, it may request for an extension. It will analyse the proposal clause by clause and seek public feedback. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which holds a majority in the Lok Sabha, is expected to chair the committee.