Govt calls all-party meet a day ahead of Parliament special session

The government on Wednesday announced that an all-party meeting will be held on Sunday, a day ahead of the commencement of the Special Session of Parliament which will commence from September 18.

Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi took to X to make the announcement. “Ahead of the parliament session from the 18th of this month, an all-party floor leaders meeting has been convened on the 17th at 4.30 PM. The invitation for the same has been sent to concerned leaders through email. Letter to follow,” he posted.

The government had announced the Special Session with a similar tweet by Joshi on August 31, saying that the Session will have five sittings. Later in the day, the government announced the legislative agenda for both the Houses. Yet,  special speculations have made the rounds about the legislative and political agenda of the Special Session.

High on the list of speculations is that the government intends to bring in the one nation one election bill, and the forming of a committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind has fanned the assumption. There is also speculation that the government will bring in a change to the name of the country from India to Bharat.

There is also speculation that the government is keen on passing the women’s reservation bill, which has previously been brought into the Parliament half a dozen times but has lapsed as it lacked the requisite support.

The government could also laud the succeeding landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission and a successful G20 summit in Delhi, which saw the New Delhi Declaration being adopted unanimously.

Opposition leaders said the government came up with the agenda owing to pressure from India parties. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the INDIA parties stand opposed to the CEC Bill, which removes the Chief Justice of India from the panel that appoints the CEC. "I am sure the legislative grenades are being kept up their sleeves to be unleashed at the last moment as usual. Parde ke peeche kuch aur hai! Regardless, the INDIA parties will steadfastly oppose the insidious CEC Bill."