NEW DELHI: The government has expanded the joint parliamentary committee tasked with examining the "One Nation, One Election" bills. Initially composed of 31 members, the committee now includes 39 MPs, ensuring broader representation from various political parties. This includes members from the Shiv Sena (UBT), Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), alongside additional representatives from the BJP and Samajwadi Party.

The proposed new members from the Lok Sabha include Baijayant Panda and Sanjay Jaiswal (BJP), Chhotelal (SP), Anil Desai (Shiv Sena-UBT), Shambhavi (LJP), and K Radhakrishnan (CPI-M). Their inclusion aims to provide a diverse and balanced approach to analyzing the bills. The committee will consist of 27 Lok Sabha MPs and 12 Rajya Sabha MPs.

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is set to move a motion to refer the two bills to the expanded committee. The key focus will be on the constitutional amendment required to implement simultaneous elections across India. The "One Nation, One Election" initiative seeks to align the electoral cycle for Lok Sabha and state assemblies, potentially streamlining governance and reducing election-related costs.

Among the prominent members proposed for the committee are former Union Ministers Anurag Thakur and P. P. Chaudhary, as well as Bhartruhari Mahtab from the BJP. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of the Congress is also expected to play a significant role in deliberations.

The expansion reflects the government’s intent to foster a comprehensive discussion involving diverse political perspectives, emphasizing the importance of the ONOE bills in reshaping India’s electoral landscape.

The decision to increase the size of the committee is seen as an effort to incorporate diverse perspectives into the dialogue, potentially addressing concerns about the inclusiveness and fairness of the proposed reforms. In the months ahead, these bills are expected to take center stage in parliamentary debates, with the joint committee assigned the responsibility of evaluating their feasibility and assessing their broader constitutional impact.

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on "One Nation, One Election" has been expanded to include eight new members, reflecting a broader representation from various political parties. This move comes after demands from parties like Shiv Sena (UBT) and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) for their members to be included in the panel.