The 130th Amendment Bill, introduced during the parliamentary monsoon session on August 20th, proposes a significant change to the Constitution. This bill requires the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and all ministers to relinquish their posts if they are arrested or held in custody for 30 days. The bill has sparked controversy, with the opposition vehemently criticizing it. Tejashwi Yadav labeled the bill as an instrument of blackmail. However, the BJP’s allies, including the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal United, have voiced their support for the legislation.
The TDP, a prominent BJP ally in Andhra Pradesh, has welcomed the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill 2025, framing it as a move towards cleaner governance, which the public has been anticipating. They acknowledged that the bill could also apply to the Prime Minister.
Despite their backing, the TDP has also proposed that the bill be examined by a parliamentary panel to prevent potential misuse. During parliamentary proceedings, a key figure emphasized that the citizens of India desire both clean politics and a robust democracy, justifying the decision to refer the bill to a committee. It was further stated that any amendment to the Constitution should be approached with extreme care.
Lalan Singh of the Janata Dal United asserted that democracy functions on the basis of public accountability. He acknowledged that the current bill was introduced by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha. The bill includes a provision that the Prime Minister, Chief Minister, or ministers at the center and state levels will not be eligible to hold office if they are imprisoned in criminal cases and do not get bail within 30 days. He observed instances where ministers continued to hold their positions despite being incarcerated on corruption charges, which he viewed as a violation of ethical standards in public service.
Singh emphasized that the central government introduced the bill to promote ethical standards in public life. He criticized the opposition for their unparliamentary behavior during the bill’s introduction, claiming it indicated their unwillingness to uphold high moral standards. He contrasted this with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to ethical governance.
Singh expressed strong disapproval of the opposition’s actions and asserted his confidence that the public would reject those who oppose ethical conduct in public service.
The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill 2025 led to significant disruptions in Parliament. The opposition accused the government of acting arbitrarily. Tejashwi Yadav condemned the bill as a form of blackmail, while Rahul Gandhi warned that it would regress the nation. Critics of the bill claimed it would enable leaders to remove those they disliked.