Latest Politics News

Parl winter session from Dec 15 to Jan 5, Bill to ban triple talaq on agenda

Published

8 years ago

November 24, 2017

Session will witness only 14 days of work; Opposition to target BJP over GST rollout impact, rising food prices and allegations against Amit Shah and son

Finally, the suspense over whether or not the Centre will convene the winter session of Parliament ended on Friday. The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) met under the chairmanship of Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Friday morning and decided that the winter session will be convened from December 15 to January 5, with just 14 working days.

The announcement of the schedule for the winter session – traditionally convened between mid-November and mid-December – came after sustained criticism of the Centre by the Opposition parties of delaying the Parliament session due to elections scheduled for the Gujarat assembly.

Gujarat will go to polls in two phases – December 9 and 14 – while the result will be announced on December 18 along with that of the Himachal Pradesh assembly election for which votes were cast on November 9.

Union parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar brushed aside attacks from the Opposition over the Centre’s delay in convening the winter session. Asserting that “the schedule of the Parliament Session has been decided so as to avoid any overlap with the Assembly Elections in the States”, Kumar told mediapersons that this was not an “unprecedented practice”.

Kumar, who is part of the CCPA, told reporters that parliament sessions have, in the past, been delayed during the government’s headed by PV Narsimha Rao and Dr Manmohan Singh – both prime ministers who headed Congress-led coalitions – using the same argument of avoiding a clash with assembly polls.

Though a small session, which after factoring in Christmas holidays (December 25 and 26) and weekends will leave just 14 working days for legislative proceedings, the winter session is set to witness stormy scenes between the Treasury and Opposition benches.

The Congress-led Opposition – after months of deliberations over projecting unity in countering the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government – is expected to come armed with a host of issues on which it would seek to put the Centre on the mat.

Among the issues that the Opposition is likely to rake up to corner the Centre are the continuing adverse impacts on the economy and lives of common citizens from demonetisation and the GST rollout and rising food prices. The Congress and other Opposition parties are also expected to slam the government on allegations of financial impropriety and opacity that have been leveled in news reports against two prodigal sons – BJP president Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval’s son Shaurya.

Besides, the recent allegations by the family members of a judge who died under mysterious circumstances while he was presiding over the Sohrabbudin Sheikh encounter case in which Amit Shah was an accused, will also be used by the Opposition to counter the BJP.

The session is also likely to draw some attention on Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi as it is expected to be the first session of Parliament that Rahul would participate in after his likely elevation as Congress president (possibly on December 5).

However, despite the expected onslaught from the Opposition, the Centre is planning to come armed with an important list of legislative agenda which would help Modi.

The agenda, which is likely to include a Bill that proposes to ban the Islamic practice of instant triple talaq (talaq-ul-biddat), which had been declared “unislamic, arbitrary and unconstitutional” by a historic Supreme Court verdict earlier this year, would help the Narendra Modi government to effectively counter the Opposition in case of a deadlock forced through its protests in Parliament. If the Opposition’s protests cause a logjam in Parliament, Modi and his BJP will have the opportunity to tell the public that they had a reformist legislative agenda but could not pursue it because of the Opposition.

Besides the proposed Bill banning instant triple talaq, the Centre is likely to re-introduce a Bill that envisages a constitutional status for the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) to which the Opposition had successfully moved three crucial amendments in the Rajya Sabha during the monsoon session, forcing the government to withdraw the Bill it had already got cleared from the Lok Sabha.

At Friday’s media briefing on the agenda for the winter session, Kumar told mediapersons that the issues of NCBC and triple talaq are “very important” and that “the country expects that the Bills pertaining to these two issues will come to Parliament in this Winter Session.” Kumar added: “If that is the aspiration of the country, the Government is committed to respond to this desire.”

Also on the agenda of the Parliament would be the government’s effort to replace three key ordinances with Acts of Parliament. These ordinances are – Goods & Services Tax (Compensation to States) Ordinance, 2017, the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017 and the Indian Forest (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017.

However, Congress president Sonia Gandhi‘s demand to Prime Minister Narendra Modi of getting the Women’s Reservation Bill passed by Parliament is likely to remain unfulfilled during the upcoming session, sources said.

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UP civic body polls: 1st phase underway amid reports of faulty EVMs, political clashes

India News

BJP seals Assam seat-sharing pact, Modi to hold 3 rallies in April

BJP has finalised its Assam seat-sharing plan with allies and is gearing up for an intense campaign led by PM Modi and Amit Shah.

Published

13 hours ago

March 18, 2026

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The Bharatiya Janata Party has finalised its seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, firming up its strategy alongside National Democratic Alliance partners as campaigning gathers pace in the state.

Under the agreement, the BJP will contest 89 seats, while its allies — Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland People’s Front — will field candidates in 26 and 11 constituencies respectively. The distribution has been decided after internal deliberations, with the focus now shifting to candidate announcements and campaign execution.

Campaign push led by top leadership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address three rallies in Assam during the final leg of the campaign. Tentative dates for the rallies are April 1, April 3 and April 6, with events likely to be held in key constituencies.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is also set to spearhead an extensive campaign across the state through March, aiming to energise party workers and strengthen voter outreach.

Candidate selection underway

The party’s Central Election Committee is currently meeting to finalise candidates. Sources indicate that approvals for most constituencies are expected soon, and the BJP may release its complete list of candidates within the next two days.

Ticket distribution remains a crucial exercise, with internal discussions highlighting its potential impact on local political dynamics. Party leaders have also touched upon the proposed delimitation exercise scheduled for 2027, which is expected to have long-term implications for Assam’s electoral landscape.

Polling and counting dates

Voting for all 126 Assembly seats in Assam is scheduled for April 9, while the votes will be counted on May 4.

India News

Mamata Banerjee warns BJP, EC over Bengal polls, says they will be accountable

Mamata Banerjee holds BJP and Election Commission responsible for any incidents during Bengal polls, raising concerns over officer transfers.

Published

1 day ago

March 17, 2026

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has held the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of India responsible for any untoward incidents in the state during the upcoming assembly elections, following the transfer of key officials.

Addressing concerns over administrative reshuffles, Banerjee said that changes involving senior bureaucrats, including the chief secretary and home secretary, could affect governance and law and order in the state during a crucial period.

The Trinamool Congress chief also announced candidates for 291 constituencies for the elections scheduled to be held in two phases on April 23 and 29.

Criticising the Election Commission, Banerjee alleged that the transfers were being carried out in a manner that benefits the BJP. She questioned the timing of the decisions and said such actions weaken the state administration at a sensitive time.

She further raised concerns about disaster management and essential services, stating that experienced officials familiar with the state’s situation have been replaced. According to her, this could impact administrative efficiency if any emergency arises before the new government is formed.

Protecting Bengal’s identity

Banerjee emphasised that the election is not merely about forming a government but about safeguarding Bengal’s identity and existence. She accused the BJP of misusing central agencies and attempting to influence the electoral process.

She urged that elections should be conducted peacefully, without external interference, and in line with democratic principles. The chief minister also expressed confidence that her party would return to power with a stronger mandate.

Appealing to voters, she called for support for the Trinamool Congress, asserting that the people of Bengal will ultimately decide the outcome and protect their democratic rights.

India News

Mamata Banerjee writes to poll chief over officers’ reshuffle, calls move arbitrary

Mamata Banerjee has written to the Chief Election Commissioner, calling the reshuffle of senior Bengal officials arbitrary and raising concerns over constitutional norms.

Published

2 days ago

March 17, 2026

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, raising strong objections to the recent reshuffle of senior bureaucrats in the state ahead of the assembly elections.

In her letter, Banerjee described the move by the Election Commission of India as “arbitrary” and expressed “deep concern” over what she termed a unilateral decision. She urged the Commission to refrain from adopting such measures in the future.

The Chief Minister pointed out that while the Election Commission does have the authority to make administrative changes during elections, past practice has involved consultation with the state government. According to her, the Commission would typically seek a panel of officers from the state and make its selections from that list, maintaining what she called constitutional propriety and administrative convention.

Banerjee warned that bypassing this process could undermine the institutional credibility and long-standing legacy of the poll body, and may also affect the foundational principles of the constitutional framework.

The controversy stems from the Commission’s decision, taken soon after announcing election dates, to remove several top officials from election-related duties. These include the state’s Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, Kolkata Police Commissioner, and Home Secretary.

The Commission has maintained that the reshuffle was aimed at ensuring a peaceful and violence-free electoral process.

Reacting sharply, Banerjee alleged bias in the decision-making, claiming that the removal of the Chief Secretary indicated an anti-women stance. She also accused the Commission of selectively targeting officers, suggesting that the move favoured individuals aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress escalated its protest, staging a day-long walkout from the Rajya Sabha earlier in the day.

Responding to the criticism, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Election Commission is a constitutional authority, adding that questioning its decisions in Parliament is inappropriate and unproductive.

The Commission has appointed a new Chief Secretary in place of the outgoing official as part of the reshuffle.