Wed Jan 08 05:53:33 UTC 2025: ## Parliamentary Panel Begins Scrutiny of Simultaneous Elections Bills
**New Delhi, January 8, 2025** – A 39-member joint parliamentary committee convened its first meeting today to examine two bills proposing simultaneous state and national elections. The committee, chaired by BJP MP P.P. Chaudhary, includes representatives from all major political parties, reflecting the broad-based scrutiny of the proposed constitutional amendments.
The committee is currently reviewing the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, both introduced in the Lok Sabha during the recent Winter Session. The government expanded the committee’s size from 31 to 39 members to accommodate the increased interest from various parties. Notable members include Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (Congress), Sanjay Jha (JD-U), Shrikant Shinde (Shiv Sena), Sanjay Singh (AAP), and Kalyan Banerjee (Trinamool Congress). Former Union Ministers Anurag Thakur, Parshottam Rupala, and Manish Tewari are also participating.
Officials from the Ministry of Law and Justice are briefing the panel on the provisions of the proposed legislation. The committee’s deliberations will play a crucial role in shaping the future of electoral processes in India.
First Piper 