P. Chidambaram Opposes Simultaneous Elections Proposal Before Joint Committee
Former Union Minister P. Chidambaram opposed the proposal for simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections during a Joint Committee meeting on August 24, 2026. He argued that the initiative, part of the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, violates the Constitution's basic structure and undermines parliamentary democracy. Chidambaram stated that the government lacks the two-thirds majority required for the constitutional amendment. The committee also heard from around 10 Padma awardees and two think-tanks, who provided mixed opinions on the proposal. While some awardees supported simultaneous elections, others warned of potential chaos. The Bills, introduced in December 2024, aim to synchronise elections based on a high-level committee's recommendations.
Published 2 days ago • 27 Aug 2026, 01:43 PM IST