Decision on winter session of Parliament likely next week

The govt has indicated that the session is likely to be convened any day after November 19

The central government today deferred a decision on convening the winter session of Parliament to next week, amid indications that it could be summoned any day after November 19.

"The winter session of Parliament is likely to be convened any day after November 19. But a final decision will be taken by the Cabinet Committee of Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) on October 26," a government functionary said after a CCPA meeting today.

The CCPA chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh also decided to take on board parties and presiding officers of the two houses to celebrate the centenary of Dr B R Ambedkar. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Law Minister Sadanand Gowda were present at the meeting.

With the government planning to observe November 19 as Constitution Day, the Committee also discussed holding a day-long debate on the making of the Constitution.

The Committee also took stock of 53 bills pending in the Rajya Sabha where the government lacks the majority. While eight bills have been passed by Lok Sabha, five others are pending with various parliamentary committees. The crucial GST bill is also pending in Parliament which the government hopes to pass in the Session.

The Monsoon Session was a near-washout over allegations against some top BJP leaders.

The Congress had not allowed Parliament to function in the last session, demanding the resignations of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje for allegedly helping former IPL chief Lalit Modi get UK travel documents. It had also sought the ouster of Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over the multi-crore Vyapam scam.