Assembly session in Feb to pass vote on account in Odisha

The state government will convene a short session of assembly starting from February 3 to pass the vote on account before the state goes to the general elections due in May.

The anti-corruption legislation Lokauykt bill, which is now under the scrutiny of the law department, is likely to be tabled during this short session.

"The bill will be tabled in assembly scheduled to be held in the first week of February. The allegation of the opposition parties that the bill will be enacted through an ordinance is baseless," said Pravat Tripathy, Chief Whip, Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

Sources said, the bill will go to the public grievances & pension administration department, finance department for scrutiny before it is presented to the state cabinet for approval. The Opposition said, the state government should take the views of all the parties before it is enacted.

"If the bill proposes to bring the Chief Minister and other executives under the purview of anti-graft law, then why the vigilance department should not be included in the list," questioned Bhupinder Singh, Leader of Opposition.

The Odisha cabinet on January 3 had decided to bring a bill for constitution of Lokayukt in the state within a month, with proposal to bring the chief minister and other ministers under its purview.