Two bills that lay down mechanism to hold simultaneous elections i.e. Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 and Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 were formally introduced.

Key provisions of 129th CAB, 2024

• Insertion of new article 82A:
  • Simultaneous Elections: Election Commission will conduct general elections for Lok Sabha and all SLA simultaneously. 
  • Term of Legislative Assemblies: Term of all State Legislative Assemblies(SLA) will end with  full term of the Lok Sabha.
• Amendment to Article 83: It defines Unexpired Term, Mid-term and General Elections.
  • It says when Lok Sabha is dissolved before full term of 5 years as stated, period between date of dissolution and expiry of full term shall be an unexpired term.
  • Pursuant to dissolution, a mid-term election shall take place and a new Lok Sabha shall be constituted only for unexpired term.
• Amendment of Article 172: it defines unexpired term and Full term for SLA.

Key provisions of Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024

• It will amend Union Territories (UT) Act, 1963, National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019.
  • These amendments will align duration of UT Legislative Assemblies with simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.