New Delhi: Ahead of the upcoming special Parliament session, the government has scheduled a meeting with floor leaders of all parties on Sunday. The aim is to keep them informed and hear their viewpoint, as opposition parties are concerned about the possibility that the government may introduce a new agenda that will take them by surprise.
The “provisional agenda” for the five-day special session of Parliament beginning on September 18 was unveiled on Wednesday night in which the government listed discussions on the parliamentary journey of the last 75 years and the passage of five bills in the Lok Sabha. Rajya Sabha, including the controversial bill on the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other commissioners, which was introduced in the Rajya Sabha during the last monsoon session.
The special session, which is unusual in its time, is likely to involve moving the proceedings of Parliament from the old building to the new building. There is speculation that in the session, issues like ‘One Nation, One Election’, changing the name of the country from India to ‘Bharat’, issue of women’s reservation, Uniform Civil Code and announcement of date of Lok Sabha elections can be discussed.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier claimed that the government can hold the Lok Sabha elections first and they can be held simultaneously with the elections to the assemblies of five states including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. On “one nation, one election”, the government has already constituted a committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind to examine simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, Assemblies and Panchayats.
The opposition has alleged that the government may have a hidden agenda in the special session, as the issues announced have been described as “temporary”. Both BJP and Congress have issued whips to their MPs. The government has the prerogative to introduce certain new laws or other items in the Parliament which may not be part of the listed agenda.
Although there is no official statement on any possible new law, there has been some discussion about a bill to ensure quota for women in elected legislatures like the Lok Sabha and state legislatures.
What has added to the anticipation over the session is the strong possibility of Parliament being shifted to the new building inaugurated on May 28.
Various departments of the parliamentary staff are set to wear the new uniforms as a signal from the government that the shift to the new building could be marked with a new beginning in many ways.
