As the 18th Lok Sabha elections approach, the Diamond Harbour constituency prepares to cast its votes on Jun 01. Twelve candidates are in the fray, including Abhishek Banerjee, a prominent leader of the ruling party, and Pratik Ur Rahaman, a young candidate with a clean image. The BJP, with its incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has emerged as a strong contender, while the Congress struggles to regain lost ground. However, with the opposition parties banding together, it remains to be seen who will emerge victorious in this fierce political battle. Keep following #Decision2024 for all the latest updates and analysis on the upcoming elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently sparked controversy by claiming that the Congress party, under the leadership of Jawahar Lal Nehru, conspired to defeat Dalit icon BR Ambedkar in the 1951-52 Lok Sabha elections. This accusation was made in defense of his political confidante, Home Minister Amit Shah, who had stated that the constant mention of Ambedkar's name has become a "fashion" in Indian politics. However, historical records show that Ambedkar lost the elections to the Congress candidate not once, but twice. How did Ambedkar's relationship with Nehru affect his political career, and was his defeat really a result of Nehru's actions?
In a groundbreaking move, the Lok Sabha, India's lower house of Parliament, used electronic voting for the first time on December 17 to vote on the highly contentious 'One Nation One Election' bill. This marks a historic step towards modernizing the country's legislative processes and streamlining elections. The electronic voting system is expected to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the democratic process, paving the way for more significant reforms in the future.
The Modi government's proposal for One Nation One Election has sparked a heated debate in parliament, with supporters advocating for simultaneous elections while opponents argue it will undermine federalism. As the bill is introduced and voted on in the Lok Sabha, watch as panelists and top legal minds weigh in on the potential consequences of this controversial election reform.
The Indian government has taken the first step towards implementing simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, also known as "One Nation, One Election." The proposed amendments include synchronizing the terms of Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, facilitating mid-term elections, and leaving out municipal elections for now. This move aligns with the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on One Nation, One Election led by former President Ram Nath Kovind. To pass in Parliament, the Constitutional amendment will require a "special majority" in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
During a debate in the Rajya Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah responded to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's accusations that the BJP wants to change the Constitution by highlighting Congress' own history of amending the Constitution for political gain. He also criticized Rahul Gandhi for claiming to represent youth while being in his 50s. Shah's statements come after the introduction of a bill to hold simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections, which faced opposition from Congress and other opposition leaders.
The Indian Parliament witnessed a heated debate on Tuesday as the government introduced two bills proposing "One Nation, One Election", or simultaneous elections for both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. While the Opposition criticized the bills for infringing upon the federal structure, the government defended its decision and sent the bills to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for further discussion. This marked the first use of electronic voting in the new Parliament House. The bills also include amendments to align assembly elections in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry with the proposed changes.
The ruling BJP government's proposal to synchronize national and state elections has sparked heated debate in the Lok Sabha. Despite backing from three ally parties, the bill is facing strong criticism from opposition leaders who argue that it goes against the country's democratic principles and threatens to create a dictatorship. Introduced by Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal, the bill is expected to be referred to a joint committee before moving forward.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah's fiery address at the Rajya Sabha revealed the Congress party's hypocritical stance towards the Constitution of India, as he slammed the party for their past actions of appeasement politics and manipulation of the Constitution for their own gain. He also highlighted the ruling government's efforts towards fulfilling their poll promises through landmark bills such as ONOP, which aims to synchronise the tenures of the Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections. Opposition leaders, however, have voiced their disapproval, labelling the move as an attack on the democratic process.
The highly anticipated 'One Nation, One Election' Bill, which proposes simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies, is set to be introduced in the Parliament. The Cabinet approved the Bill in December, but it has sparked a heated debate between the ruling and Opposition parties. While the BJP and its allies are in favor of the Bill, several Opposition parties, including Congress and TMC, are against it. The panel, headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, recommended implementing the Bill in two phases, causing further controversy.