New Delhi, December 20, 2024: The Rajya Sabha on Friday passed a motion through voice vote to nominate 12 of its members to a joint parliamentary committee tasked with reviewing two bills related to simultaneous elections, commonly referred to as the “One Nation, One Election” initiative.
Key Developments:
- Motion Introduced: The motion was moved by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal shortly after the House reconvened following an initial adjournment in the morning.
- Chairman’s Role: Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar facilitated the proceedings during the Winter Session of Parliament, ensuring the motion’s adoption without opposition.
- Committee’s Purpose: The joint committee will carefully examine and provide recommendations on the proposed legislation aimed at aligning election schedules across the country to streamline the electoral process.
Context:
The “One Nation, One Election” initiative seeks to synchronize elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, aiming to reduce frequent election cycles, save costs, and enhance governance efficiency. The two bills under scrutiny by the committee are seen as critical steps toward achieving this goal.
The nominated members from the Rajya Sabha will collaborate with their counterparts from the Lok Sabha to conduct a detailed review of the bills and present their findings to Parliament.