Shimla, Feb 23Â
The Budget session of State Assembly likely to be remain stormy. No of protests and walk-outs could be witnessed this time, in wake of large number of causalities due to Covid-19, farmer movements against three agricultural laws, recent Panchayat and Urban body election and victory of number of Congress supported candidates and recent record hike of fuel prices in the state and county.
Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Speaker Vipin Singh Parmar has decided to convene an all party meeting in his chamber at Vidhan Sabha secretariat on Feb 25 inviting leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri, Parliamentary affairs Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, chief Vidhan Sabha Whip Narendra Bragta, CPI(M) member Rakesh Singha, and Independent MLAs. A press statement issued by the Vidhan Sabha spokesman said that the meeting was convened for conduct of smooth functioning of 13the State Assembly’s 11th Vidhan Sabha session starting from Feb 26. The motive of the meeting is to seek cooperation and assistance from all members.
Speaker has said that during the session all members are expected to keep high standard and decorum of house in mind. He said that all the parties/members while raising the issues of public interest in the house would help to keep restraints to not create discord with the high principles and decorum of the assembly.
The state assembly which could not assemble for the winter session is meeting after gap of six months. Naturally the Opposition and ruling members have number of issues to be raised on the table of the house, is likely to keep the session stormy.
What could be the likely issues
Jai Ram Thakur Government which is facing assembly elections in coming one and half years is likely to come out with new proposal for conducting the upcoming Municipal Corporations for newly created bodies like Solan, Hamirpur, Mandi, Palampur and Dharmshala next months. The state cabinet meeting convened here on Tuesday is likely to come out with the amendment to change the civic body laws.
Detailed time-table of the session
The budget session of state legislative assembly would start with effect from Feb 26 at Shimla. There would be total 17 sittings till Mar 20. Budget session would start with Governor’s address. After two days weekly off house would assemble again on Mar 1 to present and pass the state supplementary budget for the financial year 2020-21. On the same day the house would start discussions on the motion of thanks to Guv address which would continue till March 4 (four days).
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur who also holds the portfolio of finance would present his fourth state general budget for the financial year 2021-22 on Mar 6, 2021. The House would discuss the budgetary estimates for the FY 2021-22 from Mar 8 to Mar 12 for next four days. Thereafter this house would discuss and pass budgetary demands of various head and department for next four days from Mar 15 to 18 and the appropriation bill would be presented to be vetted by the house on Mar 18, notification said.
Two days would dedicated for the private members for presentation and passing of private member’s resolution on Mar 5 & 19 during the session, Vidhan Sabha secretary added.
During the Covid pandemic the state assembly could hold only two sessions last year as the winter session which was scheduled in the month of December last year at Tapovon near Dharmshala had been deferred due to Covid outbreak and the houses mandate of 35 minimum sittings could not be completed.
