Onlykashmir.in News Desk
The Union Government is set to introduce a bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday to amend “The Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act-2019,” aiming to align the electoral cycle of the Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory with its “One Nation, One Election” initiative.
As per the Lok Sabha’s business schedule for Monday, Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal will present “The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill-2024.” The bill proposes amendments to the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, and the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
The amendments to the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, are intended to synchronize the assembly elections of Puducherry and Delhi with the Lok Sabha polls. Similarly, changes to the J&K Reorganisation Act-2019 aim to align the electoral schedule of the J&K Legislative Assembly with the Lok Sabha elections.
A copy of the proposed amendments reveals that the term of the J&K Legislative Assembly will end simultaneously with the full term of the Lok Sabha. The bill stipulates that simultaneous elections will be implemented on an “appointed date” to be notified by the President of India during the first sitting of the newly elected Lok Sabha.
Since the first sitting of the Lok Sabha elected in 2024 has already taken place, the earliest possible “appointed date” for simultaneous elections would be the first sitting of the Lok Sabha elected in 2029. This implies that simultaneous elections could be held as early as 2034, after the 2029 Lok Sabha’s full term.
Importantly, the bill clarifies that the existing five-year term of the J&K Assembly will remain unaffected. In the event that the J&K Assembly is dissolved before completing its five-year term, any mid-term election will be conducted only for the remaining duration of the five-year period.
These proposed changes are part of a broader push by the central government to synchronize elections across the country under the “One Nation, One Election” policy, aimed at reducing the frequency and cost of elections.
With Inputs: KNO
