After facing initial hesitation, the Indian National Congress has reportedly decided to boycott the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) reviewing three contentious bills concerning the removal of jailed Chief Ministers, ministers, and even the Prime Minister. This decision aligns the Congress with several of its key INDIA bloc allies, including the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Samajwadi Party (SP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Shiv Sena (UBT), who had already announced their intention to abstain from the panel.
The three bills in question—the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill 2025, the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill 2025, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2025—propose a significant change in the legal framework. They stipulate that if a Prime Minister, Chief Minister, or any other minister is arrested and detained for 30 consecutive days on charges punishable by a prison sentence of five years or more, they would automatically lose their position. These bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 20, 2025, by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and subsequently referred to a 31-member JPC for further examination. The JPC is expected to submit its report during the winter session of Parliament.
The decision by Congress to boycott the JPC signifies a shift from its initial stance. Sources indicate that the party, along with the DMK and CPI(M), initially believed that the opposition should participate in the JPC to voice their concerns and challenge the bills, which they consider anti-constitutional and undermining. However, the TMC's earlier decision to boycott the panel, allegedly made without consulting other parties, created pressure on other opposition parties to follow suit to maintain a united front.
Several opposition leaders have criticized the bills, with some calling the JPC a "farce". They argue that the bills could be misused to destabilize non-BJP governments. Concerns have also been raised about the bills potentially creating a "Gestapo-like regime". Derek O'Brien, a TMC leader, expressed a lack of confidence in the JPC, citing instances where opposition objections were ignored in past JPCs.
Despite the opposition's concerns, the government has defended the bills, stating that they are necessary to ensure accountability and transparency in governance. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has argued that individuals facing serious criminal charges should not continue to hold constitutional positions. He also stated that the JPC would provide an opportunity for all parties, including the opposition, to offer suggestions and contribute to the discussion.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has stated that, as of mid-September 2025, no political party had formally communicated their decision to boycott the JPC in writing. However, with the Congress now likely to join the boycott, the opposition's message of disagreement with the proposed legislation is amplified. The absence of a significant portion of the opposition raises questions about the JPC's legitimacy and its ability to conduct a truly comprehensive and impartial review of the bills. It remains to be seen how the government will respond to the opposition's boycott and whether it will attempt to address their concerns before moving forward with the legislation.
