Shimla, Aug 26,
The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly is set to commence its ten-day Monsoon session in Shimla tomorrow, marking the beginning of what is expected to be a highly charged and contentious period. With ten sittings on the agenda, this session aims to provide a platform for legislators to raise critical issues, though the recent political climate suggests that the debates will be intense and potentially confrontational.
Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania has attempted to ensure a smooth session by calling for an all-party meeting. However, the absence of key opposition figures, including the Leader of the Opposition, due to health concerns, and other BJP members for personal reasons, has already sparked controversy. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harsh Vardhan Chauhan criticized the opposition’s absence, calling it a break from the tradition of democratic cooperation. Despite this, Speaker Pathania has stated that he has secured the opposition’s cooperation for the session.
The session will open with a condolence message for former MLAs Tek Chand Dogra, Daulat Ram Chaudhary, and Narayan Singh Swamy, who have recently passed away. The first day’s agenda includes discussions on the recent heavy rains and the urgent need for rehabilitation efforts.
A significant 936 questions have been submitted for this session, reflecting the legislators’ concerns over pressing issues such as infrastructure, utilities, and education. Of these, 640 are starred questions requiring oral responses, and 296 are unstarred, necessitating written replies. The focus on these essential services highlights the challenges the state is currently facing.
This session is crucial for the Congress government, which recently regained its majority in the assembly after a period of instability. The previous budget session saw six Congress MLAs defect to the BJP and cross-vote in the Rajya Sabha election, leading to a temporary deadlock with both parties holding 34 seats. However, subsequent by-election victories have restored the Congress majority to 40 MLAs, while the BJP has solidified its position by winning three seats.
Adding to the tension is the BJP’s recent success in all four Lok Sabha seats, which has emboldened the opposition to take a more aggressive stance against the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government. The BJP has already planned a legislature party meeting in Shimla to strategize their approach during the session.
Key issues expected to dominate discussions include the state’s financial health, particularly the Rs 10,000 crore in dues from the previous BJP government that have been transferred to the current administration. Criticism of the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu cabinet’s spending habits and the appointments of political aides, which are seen as straining state resources, is also likely to feature prominently. Complaints from the State Secretariat employees about government extravagance and financial mismanagement are further adding to the friction.
With heightened political tensions and a packed legislative agenda, Speaker Pathania will face the challenge of navigating what promises to be a tumultuous and critical session.
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