Amidst mounting political anticipation surrounding the forthcoming five-day special session of Parliament, scheduled from September 18 to 22, reports indicate that the session will commence in the current Parliament building before shifting to the new Parliament building on September 19, coinciding with the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi.
The announcement of this special session has left political parties taken aback, as the government has not disclosed a specific agenda for the five-day sitting. Congress Parliamentary Party Chief Sonia Gandhi voiced her concerns in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizing the need for transparency regarding the session’s purpose, given the absence of any communicated agenda.
The inaugural proceedings of this special session of Parliament will unfold in the existing Parliament building before transitioning to the newly constructed one.
The new Parliament building, a prestigious project undertaken by the Modi government, received its inauguration on May 28 of the current year. Boasting a total expenditure of ₹971 crore, the new Parliament building can accommodate 888 members in the Lok Sabha and 300 members in the Rajya Sabha. The previous monsoon session of Parliament took place in the former building, making the upcoming special session the maiden event to be hosted in the new Parliament facility.
In the lead-up to this special session, a political controversy arose following the use of “Bharat” instead of “India” on the G20 invitation card. Speculation now suggests that the government might present a resolution during the special session to officially change the country’s name from India to Bharat.
Another significant topic that could come under discussion during the session is the concept of “one nation, one election.” The government has established a committee to explore the feasibility of conducting simultaneous elections across states and at the national level. It’s important to note that this session will not feature a Question Hour or private members’ business, as it falls outside the regular legislative calendar, which includes the Budget, Monsoon, and Winter sessions.
