Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has announced that the government has chosen to convene a Special Session of Parliament scheduled from September 18 to 22, comprising five sittings.
“Special Session of Parliament (13th Session of 17th Lok Sabha and 261st Session of Rajya Sabha) is being called from 18th to 22nd September having 5 sittings. Amid Amrit Kaal looking forward to having fruitful discussions and debate in Parliament,” Joshi said on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter).
Accompanying his statement with images of both the former and the recently inaugurated new parliament buildings, Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the contrast between the two structures. Worth noting is that the monsoon session of parliament, which wrapped up last month, was conducted in the former Parliament building.
The declaration about the unexpected Special Session has caught political circles off guard, especially as parties are preparing for upcoming assembly elections in five states later this year. Traditionally, the winter session of Parliament commences in the last week of November.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament which commenced on July 20 was adjourned sine die on August 11 with 17 sittings spread over a period of 23 days.
Leaders from across the political lines reacted to the announcement, with Shiv Sena (UTB) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi calling the choice of dates “surprising."
“This special session called during India’s most important festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is unfortunate and goes against the Hindu sentiments," Chaturvedi said.
