Union Minister Kiren Rijiju announced on Tuesday that Parliament’s Winter Session will run from November 25 to December 20. The session will include the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution, with a special event to be held on Constitution Day, November 26, in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan.
One of the major legislative focuses is expected to be the One Nation, One Election bill. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has championed the idea, which aims to synchronize elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies to enhance resource efficiency and democratic outcomes. “We are now working towards One Nation, One Election, which will strengthen India’s democracy, optimize resources, and propel the country toward the dream of a developed India,” the Prime Minister recently stated. He also linked this vision with another goal: achieving a Uniform Civil Code to create a “Secular Civil Code.”
However, the proposal has already faced opposition. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has dismissed the concept as “impossible,” citing the need for broader consensus in Parliament. “What PM Modi has said, he will not do it, because when it comes in the Parliament, he has to take everybody into confidence,” Kharge told ANI, reiterating that the ‘One Nation, One Election’ concept is “impossible.”
In addition to election reform, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is also expected to be a priority for the Modi government. The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, has been consulting stakeholders across states to build consensus on the contentious bill, and the government is expected to push for its passage.
The Winter Session could also see discussions on the outcomes of the Jharkhand and Maharashtra Assembly elections, which are set to be announced on November 23. These results may add to the deb.ates in both houses, shaping the political discourse surrounding the proposed reforms and key bills