Bengal Assembly winter session likely to be stormy

With the Opposition likely to grill the West Bengal government over its handling of the Burdwan blast in which terror link is suspected and Saradha scam besides other issues, the winter session of the state Assembly beginning from November 7 is expected to be stormy.
Briefing reporters after an all-party meeting, Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee said a total of 15 bills would be tabled in the House mostly related to education departnment, municipal affairs and health.
He said that the National Judicial Apppointments Commission Bill was among the 15 bills. The Bill would be taken up for debate and amendments could be suggested, if any, by anyone (of the legislators).

NJAC was passed by both Houses of Parliament in August.
The Constitution Amendment Bill required endorsement of at least 50 per cent of state Assemblies,.
The Bill provides for procedure to be followed by the NJAC for recommending persons for appointment as Chief Justice of India and other Judges of the Supreme Court (SC), and Chief Justice and other Judges of High Courts (HC).

When a reporter drew his attention to Opposition parties often slamming Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly skipping the Question Hour earmarked for his under her departments, the Speaker said, "It is not true".
"The Chief Minister on a number of times had come to the House and spoke on different issues raised including answering questions. It is not that the Chief Minister has to remain present in the House all the time. There are competent ministers who can reply on her behalf", the Speaker said.

The session will see the BJP as represented by its lone legislator in the 294-member House by Samik Bhattacherjee who won from Basirhat South seat in a recent bypoll.
This is the first time that the BJP had won an Assembly seat in Bengal on its own. The BJP's Badal Bhattacharya had won a bypoll in Ashoknagar in 1999 but it had fought the election in alliance with Trinamool.