Ahead of the Monsoon Session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, which is to commence from September 1, all Ministers and MLAs would undergo RT-PCR and antibody tests, informed Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro on Friday.
Speaking to mediapersons following an all-party meeting, Patro said both the tests of the House members would be conducted on the same day. The session, which would have eight business days, would continue till September 9.
“The House will run for five hours every day with two sittings (from 10.30 am-1.30 pm and 4 pm-6 pm). It will function on Saturdays too. Starred questions will be taken up during the House proceedings. Adjournment motions will be allowed during the session,” said the Speaker. Opposition BJP would be permitted to bring four adjournment motions and the Congress can move two adjournment motions.
Leader of Opposition Pradipta Naik, who is under medication post-Covid complications, can attend the session through videoconferencing, he said. MLAs can attend the proceedings through videoconferencing from the OCAC building, Lok Seva Bhawan and other feasible places. The proceedings would be completely paperless, Patro added.This will be the seventh session of the 16th Assembly.