It will be the last session of the 17th Lok Sabha and all eyes will be on address by President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday and interim Union budget to be presented by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Feb 1, which will be indicators of government’s agenda ahead of general elections likely to be held in April-May.The new government will present full budget after it assumes office.
“Forty-five leaders from 30 parties, including ruling BJP, attended the meeting. This is a short session and we have requested MPs to not come with placards,” said parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi.
One of the key absentees was JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan), whose party has now returned to NDA. Singh, had been one of the most vocal ones from opposition benches and had had a few heated altercations with NDA members.
Joshi said, “All (suspensions) will be revoked. This is jurisdiction of Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairman. So, we requested both to speak to privileged committees, revoke suspensions & give the members a chance to come to the House. Both have agreed.”
Defence minister Rajnath Singh, who is also deputy leader in Lok Sabha, chaired the all-party meeting in which opposition leaders raised a host of issues including ongoing probe by central agencies against opposition leaders. Later, Singh chaired a strategy meeting with senior ministers as they discussed likely issues to come up during the 10-day session.
