Fourth Jharkhand State Assembly is all set to witness a momentous session on Tuesday for the first time in 14 years when the newly elected legislators will not have to go for voting to support or reject a Government. In the House of 81, the BJP-AJSU coalition is comfortable with 42 MlAs on the ruling side, while the Opposition side will be manned by the JMM, Congress and the JVM among others.
The State Assembly has never seen its first session without a confidence motion as all the nine Governments formed earlier had to prove their majority on the floor of the House. This time a majority Government has taken shape in the State to break the jinx. The Assembly Secretariat is ready to host the first session with Protem Speaker Stephen Marandi, who conducted a preparatory meeting with the top officials of the State. Marandi instructed the officials to make the session smooth and ensure that it goes without any disturbance due to protests likely by many groups.
“I have asked the officials to make necessary arrangements for the session and also to ensure that the work of the House goes uninterrupted. I have also asked them to find out if the Russian Hostel (MlA’s residence) is occupied by unauthorised persons. The new legislators must get their space and all facilities,” Marandi said.
Chief Secretary Sajal Chakraverty, who attended the meeting on Monday, also said that the State Government was all set to make sure that the proceedings of the House goes well without any hindrance. According to the schedule, the newly elected legislators will take oath on Tuesday followed by election of new Speaker on Wednesday. The Governor will address the House on the third-day of the session and a supplementary budget will also be presented before the House.
The last day of the session will witness voting on the budget and thanksgiving speech of the Government apart from other businesses of the House. Newly elected legislators, on the other hand, are excited to begin a new phase of life in a totally changed political landscape of the State. “I am thankful to the people of my constituency for considering me able to represent them in the Assembly. This is totally a new experience but I am confident that with the good wishes and blessings of the people of my region I will try to prove my worth as a true legislator and will work for the interest of the common masses,” said BJP MlA from Gumla Shiv Shankar Oraon.
Former Assembly Speaker CP Singh, who happens to be the new Urban Development Minister, said that work culture of the legislators will change in the new scenario. “This is for the first time that a majority Government has been formed and the view of the Assembly will also be different this time. The voice of the legislators will be same and the pace of work will also improve in the House,” Singh said.