Guwahati, 29th November: The timing of the winter session of the Assam Legislative Assembly remains uncertain, prompting inquiries into its scheduling. In response to these questions, Assam cabinet minister Jayanta Malla Barua made a lighthearted remark, suggesting that MLAs could visit their homes or call them with queries. He expressed readiness to respond to questions anywhere, emphasizing their commitment to work.
Addressing concerns about a potential delay or cancellation of the winter session, Malla Barua mentioned the possibility of a Budget Session in February preceding the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Highlighting the need for preparations, he acknowledged that holding a session in February was crucial due to the subsequent imposition of the code of conduct in March.
The delay in convening the winter session has triggered criticism from opposition MLAs, particularly Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia. Saikia emphasized the importance of discussing various issues during the session and raised concerns about the delayed notification release.
In a letter to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Saikia pointed out the absence of the customary notification from the Governor’s Secretariat, a crucial step in scheduling the winter session. While a proposal from the Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly for setting the session date has been submitted, the official announcement is pending.
Sources revealed that the proposed location for this year’s winter session in Kokrajhar faced disagreements between the government and the Legislative Assembly, causing a delay in the Governor’s announcement. Saikia suggested considering Dispur as an alternative if technical challenges in Kokrajhar posed obstacles, emphasizing the need for promptly finalizing the session date.
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