'Bharat', Women's Reservation Bill And 'One Election' Debate: Buzz Gets Louder Over Parliament Special Session

For the first time in the history of independent India, the government is conducting a five-day-long special session of Parliament from September 18 to September 22. While special sessions have been called on several occasions in the past, from 1947 to mark India’s independence, to the latest in 2017 when the Modi government called a midnight session to roll out the goods and services tax (GST), never have these sessions been longer than two days. In all of the special sessions held in the past, the government has made its agenda known beforehand. However, this time, the Centre has remained tightlipped, with even its top ministers doing guesswork for the schedule of the Parliament session. 

Naturally, social media is abuzz with speculations and political analysts are coming up with a list of possibilities for the special session. BJP strategists are also thrilled as these discussions help them divert the attention from the Opposition alliance or issues like inflation, unemployment and the ethnic violence in Manipur.

The special session has been called just a few days after the two great successes for the government – Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing and the G-20 Summit – meaning the Centre will use it as an opportunity to highlight Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image as a global leader. Meanwhile, many anticipate that behind the secretive strategy of the government could be a “big ticket move” – something big enough to stun the nation ahead of the Lok Sabha elections next year.

Here are some of the biggest speculations about the Parliament special session:

Move To New Parliament

The government is most likely to conduct the special session in the new Parliament building, people in the know have said. The talk has been floating since the Budget session that parliamentarians will be shifted to the new building. However, due to technical difficulties, the move has been delayed thus far. While the special session will begin on September 18 at the colonial-era Parliament, members will be formally moved to the new building on September 19 following a ‘puja’ on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.

One Nation, One Election

One of the most heated discussions has been around the speculation that BJP will turn ‘One Nation, One Election’ – an idea that has been floated frequently in public gatherings and election rallies since 2014 – into a reality. The idea is to hold simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and various state assemblies but it has been vehemently opposed by many parties. 

‘One Nation, One Election’ has also been studied by the Law Commission of India in 2018, which had three proposals for alternatives to the current system. However, for the idea to be put to test, several Articles of the Constitution will need to be amended which may prove to be difficult to get a consensus on.

India’s Name Change To Bharat

Another big speculation is that the BJP government may pass a resolution to change the country’s name from India to ‘Bharat’. This built further momentum after G20 invitations read ‘Bharat’ instead of India. For instance, Droupadi Murmu was referred to as “President of Bharat” instead of “President of India” in the invitation sent to G20 attendees. Part of the rationale offered by the RSS – the backbone of the country’s right wing – and supporters of the name change is that the Sanskrit term ‘Bharat’ holds great significance in history and was in prominent usage during the anti-colonial struggles.

However, this is a debate that was closed in the Constituent Assembly in 1949, following which Article 1 of the constitution referred to the country as “India, that is Bharat”. Reopening the debate now could stir a flurry of arguments and may not be favoured by the non-Hindu minorities who have suffered greater “otherisation” with the rise of Hindutva politics.

Women’s Reservation Bill

In the case of the women's reservation bill, the BJP has neither voiced against it – possibly to stay in line with their ‘Nari Shakti’ position – nor has it broached the subject. The bill seeks that 33 per cent of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies are reserved for women. It was first introduced in the Lok Sabha in 1996 as the 81st Amendment Bill by the Deve Gowda-led United Front government but failed to get the approval of the House. While it was passed by Rajya Sabha in 2010, the bill has lapsed in the lower house so far.

However, the BJP realises the power of women voters. Just two weeks ago, the Union cabinet slashed the price of LPG cylinders giving an additional subsidy of Rs 200 to its consumers. Women have emerged as a key constituency in polls, playing a decisive role in influencing their outcomes. Moreover, in the recently concluded G20 Summit India listed women-led development as one of its six main priorities, dropping a hint of what we can expect in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, and even in the special session. 

Calling The 2024 Lok Sabha Election Early

By now we are well aware that the BJP is capable of pulling off big surprises like demonetisation, GST, abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status etc. and with the growing debate of ‘One Nation, One Election’, it is well within the saffron party’s capabilities to call the elections early. However, this is just a speculation.

When the question was thrown at the INDIA bloc of Opposition alliance at a press conference, party general secretary KC Venugopal said they were “prepared for anything”. “If they want an early election means they have totally panicked. After INDIA alliance formation and our three meetings, they have totally panicked,” Venugopal had said.

However, a top minister was anonymously quoted in a News18 report saying the Narendra Modi cabinet had no such plans. The BJP government will “complete its term”, the minister reportedly said.

Uniform Civil Code

The list of guesses also includes the controversial Uniform Civil Code (UCC) which has witnessed fervid protests by opposition parties and activists. The proposal which aims to replace personal laws based on religion, customs and traditions with a common law on marriage, divorce, adoption, inheritance etc has been vouched at almost every public gathering event. But the Modi government is still considering. It is still weighing the pros and cons to see if the passage of UCC will be appreciated or trigger an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act-like agitation. 

Giving Back J&K’s Its Statehood

The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was brought under the Centre’s rule through a non-elected Governor in 2019, when the Modi government announced the abrogation of Article 370, snatching away its special status and statehood. Since then, the now-union territory has not had elections. This cannot persist for too long and the BJP realises it.  

The Supreme Court recently took up the matter while hearing petitions challenging the abrogation and the change of J&K’s status from state to union territory. The court asked the Centre to restore the democratic set-up over there and the Centre assured it that elections will be held soon in Kashmir. The Centre may not give back J&K its special status but it will have to give back its statehood for elections to be held. An announcement about elections could help it with some damage control before it is too late and before the Opposition makes it their agenda to undo the Centre’s decision in the polls next year. But this too is a speculation.

What the Modi government may actually have on the agenda for the special session is only known to one or two people at the top. However, by not announcing its agenda beforehand, the Centre has once again continued its trend of zero transparency when it comes to public affairs.