The new Parliament building.
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: The winter session of Parliament will begin from November 25 and go on till December 30, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced on Tuesday.
The contentious Waqf Amendment Bill could be tabled in this session, as well as the proposal for One Nation One Election. The Parliament will also celebrate the 75th year of the adoption of the Constitution.
“Hon’ble President, on the recommendation of Government of India, has approved the proposal for summoning of both the Houses of Parliament for the Winter Session, 2024 from 25th November to 20th December, 2024 (subject to exigencies of parliamentary business). On 26th November, 2024 (Constitution Day), 75th Anniversary of the adoption of Constitution, the event would be celebrated in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan,” Rijiju posted on X.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill, which has seen several debates between the NDA MPs and Opposition members, is likely to table its report during the session.
Union home minister Amit Shah had previously stated that the government is committed to bringing the amended legislation, which had eventually led to protests from Opposition MPs during one of the meetings of the Committee. The panel is holding extended meetings to be able to table the report by the Winter session.
The One Nation One Election proposal has garnered support from the prime minister, who spoke about the need for the move. “We are now working towards One Nation One Election, which will strengthen India’s democracy, give optimum outcome of India’s resources and the country will gain new momentum in achieving the dream of a developed India,” he had said.
The session is set to begin days after the results of the Maharashtra as well as Jharkhand elections will be declared, and the results are likely to have a bearing on the proceedings of the session. The BJP’s clinching of a victory in Haryana, where it was expected to lose, has buoyed the party’s outlook in the poll-bound states.
The lower house is also likely to see some new members. The Congress will be defending two seats in the Lok Sabha – Wayanad and Nanded. While Wayanad bypoll is necessitated by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi vacating the seat, the party’s Nanded MP Vasant Chavan, passed away in August.
The Wayanad seat is keenly watched with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contesting the seat, and if she wins, her entry could lead to changed dynamics for the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and will also mark the first instance when all three Gandhis will be in Parliament at the same time.