Jharkhand government skips winter session

RANCHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Arjun Munda government in Jharkhand has skipped the winter session of the assembly attracting criticism not only from the opposition but also from within the ruling party.

This is the first time that the Jharkhand government has not convened the winter session.

A leader in the Munda government said that due to the ongoing panchayat polls it is not possible to convene the winter session. “The assembly will now meet for the budget session,” the leader added.

Jharkhand assembly speaker C.P. Singh, who belongs to the BJP, was unhappy with the government’s decision and said he favoured the convening of the winter session.

Opposition party members also expressed their unhappiness.

“This is unfortunate that the Munda government is not interested in convening the winter session. How then will a legislator bring the problems of the people to the attention of the government,” Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) legislative party leader Pradeep Yadav told IANS.

The Congress party termed the state government’s move as unprecedented.

“This is an unprecedented move of the Munda government. We are shocked and surprised. This is nothing but a cruel joke with the Indian democracy,” Congress Jharkhand unit spokesperson Radha Krishna Kishore said.

Leaders of Munda’s own BJP were also divided on the issue.

“We are unable to understand the reason given by the government. This will set a wrong precedent and BJP, which has faith in the democratic system, will be in an embarrassing position,” a senior BJP leader told IANS.

“The panchayat polls are not taking place on party lines and three of the five phases are over. What is the problem in convening the assembly in the last week of the month,” the BJP leader asked.

According to experts, the state government is not compelled to convene the winter session. As per constitutional provisions, there should not be a gap of more than six months between two sessions. The last assembly session was convened in September when the Munda government proved its majority.