Synopsis
Jharkhand Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato conducted an all-party meeting ahead of the budget session starting February 24. The BJP's absence raises concerns about the session's effectiveness, as the party has yet to appoint a legislative leader. Chief Minister Hemant Soren remains optimistic about productive discussions.Key Takeaways
- Jharkhand Assembly budget session starts on February 24.
- BJP did not attend the all-party meeting.
- Speaker emphasized the need for quality debate.
- Chief Minister expressed readiness for constructive discussions.
- Senior officials required to provide information during the session.
Ranchi, Feb 21 (NationPress) The Speaker of the Jharkhand Assembly, Rabindra Nath Mahato, held an all-party meeting on Friday to facilitate the smooth running of the upcoming budget session, which is set to commence on February 24.
However, the primary opposition party, the BJP, opted to refrain from participating in the meeting.
As the BJP has not yet appointed its legislative party leader, the Speaker had reached out to senior party MLA Chandreshwar Prasad Singh. Nevertheless, Singh did not show up for the meeting.
During the meeting, Speaker Mahato appealed to all parties for collaboration to ensure a fruitful session. He highlighted the necessity of logical, factual, and high-quality discussions within the House to address pressing public concerns.
He also stressed the importance of the government providing satisfactory answers to the inquiries made by members.
After the meeting, the Speaker remarked on the challenges brought about by the lack of a Leader of the Opposition, noting that it obstructs the House's effective operation.
“The BJP’s delay in appointing a legislative party leader has postponed the selection of a Leader of the Opposition, resulting in procedural challenges in the Assembly’s operations,” he stated.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren assured that the government is thoroughly prepared for the budget session and is optimistic about constructive discussions. “We are ready to engage in deliberations on various state issues, and I believe the House will operate with a positive attitude,” Soren expressed.
The meeting saw the participation of Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore, Congress Legislature Party Leader Pradeep Yadav, JDU’s Saryu Rai, and LJP’s Janardan Paswan.
Previously, on Tuesday, the Speaker met with senior officials of the state government to assess the preparations for the session.
He instructed officials to deliver precise responses to legislative inquiries, honor commitments made during proceedings, and keep the Assembly Secretariat updated.
The Speaker also emphasized that senior officials from every department should be present during the session to ensure that ministers have immediate access to relevant information while addressing queries in the House.
