World-Altering 30-Day Period: Manipulations of the Constitution Through Gaming

The Narendra Modi government has introduced a new bill, the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill 2025, during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The proposed legislation, if passed, could have far-reaching effects on India's political dynamics.

The bill aims to remove suspected wrongdoers from holding elected public offices, including the Prime Minister, Union ministers, chief ministers, and state ministers. Critics argue that the bill's proposed deadline for passing could be seen as mischievous, potentially leading to interminable extensions in investigations and prosecutions.

The bill has been referred to as a "Get Out of Jail or Get Out of Office" legislation by lawyer Sanjay Hegde. Some have compared it to medieval times, where the king could remove anyone at his will, as expressed by Rahul Gandhi. Mamata Banerjee referred to the bill as the "death knell of democracy", while M.K. Stalin said it signals the beginning of dictatorships.

The Opposition's reaction to the bill has been critical. Leaders like Mamata Banerjee, M.K. Stalin, Rahul Gandhi, and Akhilesh Yadav have expressed concerns. Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party has stated they will not join the committee to examine the amendment.

The intention of the proposed constitutional amendment is questionable, as it undermines its purpose if any question is raised about it. The parties likely to be represented in the committee investigating the 130th constitutional amendment have not been explicitly identified.

The abruptness of the bill's introduction may be explained by the gap in the existing laws that needed to be plugged following political events such as the judicial custody of Arvind Kejriwal and the conviction of Jayalalitha. Some believe the bill could be a response to the successful fightback by the INDIA bloc against the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision process in Bihar.

However, the proposed legislation, if passed, could potentially threaten Opposition chief ministers and ministers due to the extraordinary power it grants to the police and judiciary. In the long term, the bill could destabilize a newly elected Opposition government if a criminal case is filed against the incumbent chief minister.

The BJP-led NDA government's approach to the bill has been confrontational, leading to speculation about questionable methods to secure the necessary two-thirds majority. The bill could also be a move to deflect attention from the Modi government's lame defense about the initiation and outcomes of Operation Sindoor, the failure to negotiate a trade deal with the United States, and other issues.

In light of these concerns, it is essential that the bill is preceded by substantial consultation with all representatives of the political class. The bill could potentially uphold the "canons of constitutional morality and principles of good governance" if it were approached in this manner. The bill's future remains uncertain, but its introduction has certainly sparked a heated debate in the political arena.

World-Altering 30-Day Period: Manipulations of the Constitution Through Gaming