Attack on Federalism: Kerala CM on Bills to Remove Jailed PM, CMs
The recent move by the central government to table the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the Parliament has raised serious concerns among opposition parties and state governments. The Bill, which seeks to remove the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and Ministers who are arrested or detained for at least 30 days, has been dubbed as an attack on federalism by Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan. In this blog post, we will examine the implications of this move and the concerns raised by state governments and opposition parties.
The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, tabled in the Parliament, aims to amend Article 70 of the Constitution, which deals with the disqualification of elected representatives. The Bill seeks to insert a new clause that will disqualify an elected representative from holding public office if they are arrested or detained for at least 30 days. The Bill, in effect, will allow the central government to remove from office any Prime Minister, Chief Minister, or Minister who is arrested or detained for 30 days or more.
Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, has strongly opposed the Bill, terming it as an attack on federalism and the rights of states. Vijayan, who represents the Left Democratic Front (LDF), has argued that the Bill is a desperate attempt by the central government to destabilise non-BJP governments by weaponising central agencies and jailing opponents on false charges.
Vijayan, in his statement, highlighted the concerns of the state governments, stating that the Bill seeks to undermine the autonomy and authority of states. “This Bill is a blatant attack on federalism and the rights of states. It seeks to destabilise non-BJP governments by weaponising central agencies and jailing opponents on false charges. This is a clear attempt to undermine the autonomy and authority of states, and we will not allow it,” Vijayan said.
The Chief Minister further elaborated that the Bill is a retrograde step, as it negates the concept of separation of powers. “The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to undermine the principle of separation of powers, which is the bedrock of our democratic system. By allowing the central government to remove from office any elected representative who is arrested or detained for 30 days or more, the Bill negates the concept of separation of powers, which is meant to protect the rights of citizens,” Vijayan said.
The opposition parties, including the Congress, the CPI(M), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), have also opposed the Bill. The opposition parties have argued that the Bill seeks to undermine the democratic institutions and the rights of citizens. “The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, is a clear attempt to undermine the democratic institutions and the rights of citizens. It seeks to give the central government the power to remove from office any elected representative who is arrested or detained for 30 days or more, which is a violation of the principles of democracy,” said Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi.
The CPI(M) and the NCP have also opposed the Bill, terming it as a retrograde step. “The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, is a retrograde step that seeks to undermine the democratic institutions and the rights of citizens. We will not allow this Bill to be passed, as it will be a threat to the very fabric of our democracy,” said CPI(M) leader, Sitaram Yechury.
The concerns raised by the state governments and opposition parties are not unfounded. The Bill, in effect, will give the central government the power to remove from office any elected representative who is arrested or detained for 30 days or more. This means that the central government will have the power to remove from office any Prime Minister, Chief Minister, or Minister who is arrested or detained for 30 days or more, without any regard for the principle of separation of powers.
Furthermore, the Bill will also give the central government the power to use central agencies to harass and intimidate opposition leaders and elected representatives. As Vijayan has pointed out, the Bill seeks to “destabilise non-BJP governments by weaponising central agencies and jailing opponents on false charges.” This means that the central government will have the power to use central agencies to harass and intimidate opposition leaders and elected representatives, which will undermine the democratic institutions and the rights of citizens.
In conclusion, the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, is a clear attack on federalism and the rights of states. The Bill seeks to undermine the autonomy and authority of states, and will give the central government the power to remove from office any elected representative who is arrested or detained for 30 days or more. The concerns raised by the state governments and opposition parties are not unfounded, and the Bill must be opposed and rejected.
