Jharkhand Assembly Speaker Shashank Shekhar Bhokta has called an all-party meeting on December 12 to discuss smooth functioning of the upcoming Winter Session, slated to commence on December 13.
The Session is set to have five seating. The meeting bears significance in the light of aggressive posturing by opposition parties like the BJP and the JVM. While the saffron party has reminded Chief Minister Hemant Soren to continue with good works initiated by the previous Government headed by Arjun Munda and Babulal Marandi-led JVM has identified host of issues to be raised during the Session.
“The Session would possibly be stormy as issues like sand auctioning, slow spending of budget money and law and order are on rife. The meeting would brainstorm how the time would be utilised at its best,” said an official of the Assembly.
As many as 500 questions from the legislators of different parties have come so far and have been listed under various sections to be asked during the Session. This apart, the Action Taken Report (ATR) for Tenth and Eleventh Session jointly would be laid in the Assembly. Due to shortage of time the ATRs of last two Sessions have been pending. The Winter Session would also see the second Supplementary Budget to be tabled on December 13 and passed on December 16 after debate and discussion. Till now, no information about Bills to be presented by the Government has reached the Assembly Secretariat.
Moreover, the JVM has already made its stand clear on the Supplementary Budget citing just 22 per cent expenditure of the budget done by the Government so far. The party is also looking to raise issues of arms theft incident of a Minister, grants to Madarsas, no assistance for drought-hit farmers, domicile issue and poor condition of hostels for SC and ST students. On Tuesday, the Speaker also called a high level meeting of all the senior officials in the run up of the Session. “I have instructed all the heads of the concerned departments to remain present during the Session when questions related to their departments are listed. The Chief Secretary has also been told that no question of the members remains partly answered or unanswered,” said Shashank Shekhar Bokta after the meeting.
However no permanent arrangement for canteen in the Assembly has been made this time as well and would be run by contractor on part time basis. Eyes would be on the legislators such as JMM Sita Soren, who is still at large in cash-for-vote case and also on JVM’s Nizammudin Ansari who remain defiant of his party orders. Some Independents extending support to the coalition Government may also show their strength to exert pressure.