The government is set to introduce two Bills in the Lok Sabha on Monday, paving the way for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state/Union territory assemblies. These include the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment Bill), 2024.

Bullets:

• Bills enable simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and UT assemblies.
• Introduced by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal in Lok Sabha.
• Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill 2024 approved by Cabinet last Thursday.
• Bills introduce Article 82(A) for simultaneous elections and amend Articles 83, 172, and 327.
• “Appointed date” for simultaneous polls to be notified after the first sitting of Lok Sabha post-general election.
• Earliest implementation date: first sitting of the 2029-elected Lok Sabha; simultaneous polls by 2034.
• Mid-term polls possible if Lok Sabha or state assembly dissolves early, limited to the remaining term.
• Delhi, J&K, Puducherry assemblies included via UT Laws Amendment Bill.
• Recommendations based on Ram Nath Kovind-led high-level committee report.
• Govt cites expensive, time-consuming elections as reason for simultaneous polls, no specific cost estimate shared.