A new constitutional amendment, the 130th Amendment Bill, was presented during the parliamentary monsoon session on August 20th. This bill mandates that the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and all ministers must resign if they are arrested or detained for a period of 30 days. The introduction of this bill has ignited strong reactions from the opposition. Tejashwi Yadav has denounced it as a tool for blackmail, while the BJP’s allies, including the TDP and Janata Dal United, have expressed their support for the amendment.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a key ally of the BJP in Andhra Pradesh, has lauded the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill 2025, portraying it as a step towards cleaner governance, something the public has long demanded. They stated that it could also lead to the removal of the Prime Minister.
Despite their support, the TDP has suggested that the bill undergo a thorough review by a parliamentary panel to prevent potential abuse. During parliamentary discussions, it was highlighted that the Indian populace seeks both ethical politics and a strong democracy, justifying the referral of the bill to a committee. Any changes to the Constitution should be handled with the utmost care.
Janata Dal United leader Lalan Singh stated that democracy is sustained by public integrity. He noted that the bill was introduced by the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha, stipulating that the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and ministers at both the central and state levels will be ineligible to hold office if they are incarcerated in criminal cases and denied bail within 30 days. He recalled instances where ministers continued to function in their roles while imprisoned on corruption charges, which he saw as a breach of ethical standards in public life.
Singh emphasized that the government introduced the bill to uphold ethical standards in public life. He criticized the opposition’s behavior during the bill’s presentation, suggesting it revealed their reluctance to embrace high moral standards. He contrasted this with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dedication to ethical leadership.
Singh strongly condemned the opposition’s actions, expressing confidence that the public would reject those who oppose ethical conduct in public service.
The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill 2025 prompted significant uproar in Parliament. The opposition accused the government of acting arbitrarily. Tejashwi Yadav labeled the bill as a form of blackmail, while Rahul Gandhi cautioned that it could regress the nation. The bill, critics argued, would allow leaders to remove those they disapprove of.
